Oct 08, 2024
ROCKVILLE, Md. (DC News Now) -- Several local crews are heading South: the Red Cross still has volunteers in Florida from Helene; and search and rescue teams from Maryland’s Task Force 1 are set to make their way to North Carolina, as other crews shift back down to Florida in anticipation of Milton. The 30 members of Maryland Task Force 1 will relieve their teammates who are already in North Carolina. The team consists of members from D.C., Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Frederick County and Prince George's County. Floridians evacuate to DMV as Hurricane Milton moves closer to shore Maryland Taskforce 1, based in Rockville, has been deployed for 13 days, “Which consists of 45 personnel. They’re anything from experts in medical services to structural integrity, to swift water rescue [and] to search and rescue," said Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Chief Corey Smedley. The team started out in Georgia and then was redeployed to North Carolina. “It’s a catastrophe like I said earlier. And now Milton is making it even worse," Smedley said. Because of the devastation, a fresh set of resources will help continue the mission. “They can continue the work that they’ve been doing in North Carolina, or they can be deployed anywhere else where they’re most needed," Smedley said. Right now, there’s still a big need where Hurricane Helene hit. American Red Cross volunteers are providing assistance to people affected. “A lot of power outage here in the Tallahassee area, so we’ve been doing mobile feeding to the people who didn’t have power," said volunteer Vic Parker. DMV crew from the National Park Service assists with Helene cleanup in North Carolina Parker, a volunteer for 13 years, is deployed in Tallahassee, Fla. More than 20 volunteers from the Red Cross of the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake region are spread across multiple states to help. “This storm is much more devastating because of the power outage and the trees down. I say that because it’s more widespread," Parker said. The impact is felt in not just one city but across multiple states. Hurricane Milton is expected to be worse than Helene but emergency crews are ready. “I am confident in our team. I’m confident in the training that they receive. And they’re ready to go, to take care of whatever [need] there is - regardless of the size and complexity of the incident," Smedley said.
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