INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indiana task force will respond to a tropical storm expected to hit Florida and the southeastern United States later this week. Indiana Task Force 1 was activated on Tuesday by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to support the agency ahead of Tropical Storm Helene. The 80-person team is leaving for Florida Tuesday afternoon before the storm, which is expected to become a tropical cyclone this week. According to reports from the Associated Press, the storm formed in the Caribbean Sea on Tuesday after it brought heavy rains to the Cayman Islands. Forecasters said it could strengthen into a hurricane as it makes its way to the southeastern United States. Hurricane watches have been issued for portions of Cuba and Mexico, as well as a portion of the Florida coast. On Tuesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in several of the state's counties. This is not the first time that the task force has been activated to support a hurricane. According to previous reports, 48 Hoosiers responded to assist FEMA in response to Hurricane Debby in early August.