TUSTIN, CA – DECEMBER 19: A mourning band for Cal Fire’s Cory Iverson covers the OCFA crest on Engine 21 after the Orange County Fire Authority team returned from fighting the Thomas Fire in Ventura at Station 21 in Tustin on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2017. (Photo by Kevin Sullivan/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
The Orange County Fire Authority's California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 5 (CA-TF5) has been deployed to North Carolina to aid in hurricane relief and rescue missions.
Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida Thursday, causing destruction across multiple states.
The multi-agency task force made up of 48 specialized personnel will assist with critical mitigation efforts, according to the OFCA. Operations include conducting search and rescue missions throughout the area.
"We stand ready to serve and support our communities, no matter the distance. North Carolina—we’re on our way," wrote the OCFA.
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Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane late Thursday with winds of 140 mph (225 kph).
It unleashed the worst flooding in a century in North Carolina, where Gov. Roy Cooper described it as “catastrophic” as search and rescue teams from 19 states and the federal government came to help. One community, Spruce Pine, was doused with over 2 feet (0.6 meters) of rain from Tuesday through Saturday.
Evacuations began before the storm hit and continued as lakes overtopped dams, including one in North Carolina that forms a lake featured in the movie “Dirty Dancing.” Helicopters were used to rescue some people from flooded homes.
At least 58 people have died due to the destruction of Hurricane Helene.
