VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2) headed to Orlando, Florida on Monday to help communities ahead of Hurricane Milton making landfall late Wednesday along Florida's Gulf Coast.
The group of 17 will join the six members already on the ground.
Around noon on Monday, weather models showed that Hurricane Milton strengthened to a Category 5 storm and is expected to travel through the Gulf of Mexico toward Tampa and Orlando, Florida.
This storm is predicted to potentially impact the same, or nearby, Sunshine State communities devastated by Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.
As VA-TF2 spent Monday morning packing their gear at a FEMA Warehouse, the Virginia Beach Fire Department Battalion Chief, Michael Carter, said crews are prepared for whatever Hurricane Milton may bring.
"We're ready. I mean, this is what we prepare for, we train for” said Carter. “The team we have going out the door right now are a group of folks, of guys and gals that are ready to serve the citizens."
Carter said the Hampton Roads crew is highly trained to handle almost any situation, but for now, their mission is focused on providing Swiftwater rescues and conducting search and rescue operations.
"So, our job right now is to head down to prepare for whatever use or needs or any type of humanitarian needs there might be in Florida."
VA-TF2 is one of the 28 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Teams activated across the country; one of which has been already operating in North Carolina for nearly two weeks.
"So, everybody is prepared to operate on their own, without power, without water that kind of stuff for at least 72 hours,” Carter explained. “So, we are bringing M.R.Es, water, we have bedding, all the things that kind of take care of ourselves."
Carter said this latest deployment continues VA-TF2's proud tradition of bringing help when disaster hits.
It will take the team an estimated 800 miles until they reach their ultimate destination in Florida, and they could be stationed there for up to two weeks or longer, depending on the storm’s impact.
If you would like to stay up to date on the VA-TF2’s journey to Florida you can follow their Facebook page.