'When they say go, we're ready'| Search and rescue teams from across Northern VA head south to help with Hurricane Helene

VIRGINIA, USA — Search and rescue teams from across Northern Virginia are gearing up and headed south to help with Hurricane Helene.

On Tuesday, members of Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) began their journey down to Florida to assist. As a Type 1 team, they are equipped to handle severe disasters like building collapses, floods, and other life-threatening emergencies. Their primary mission will be to locate and rescue people trapped in the aftermath of the storm.

They brought with them 80 members, four search and rescue K9s, and 30 tons of equipment.

They arrived in Florida Wednesday night. 

"Today has just been about readiness just getting operations ready," said Rescue Operations Officer David Prohaska.

He told WUSA9 in an interview Thursday night that the team is on standby and waiting to see where they'll be needed. 

"We're kind of waiting to see once the storm pushes through where the needs are needed the most. Then we'll travel there," said Prohaska.

He said until then, they're making sure all of their gear is good to go.

"When they say go, we're ready," he said.

Thursday morning, a team from Prince William County's Fire & Rescue Department headed to Norton, Virginia.

"To be to go down and assist other jurisdictions and their citizens is a huge huge honor," said Division Chief Tom Denner.

Denner told WUSA9 the team consisted of six swift water technicians and swift water boat operators, along with a Battalion Chief.

Stafford County Fire & Rescue also deployed a team Thursday morning. They were standing by in Tazewell, Virginia Thursday night.

Captain John Hensen told WUSA9 that eight people were selected from their 45 person team to make the trip.

They brought with them three vehicles, three motorized boats, and rafts among other things.

"We bring a lot of equipment to handle a lot of different types of emergencies," said Captain Hensen.

He shared this advice, for anyone who has to travel during the storm: "Turn around, don't drown. That's the message that we always send but it's super important because a lot of times when water is covering the roadway and you could drive through it thinking you're on a hard surface and all of a sudden you're in a ditch or washed out into a river and it's a life threatening situation," he said.

Thursday night, five members of Arlington County Fire Departments Type 3 Swift Water Rescue team headed down to Bristol, Virginia.