CALIFORNIA, USA — As Hurricane Helene continues to cause destruction in parts of the southeastern United States, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California is sending search and rescue units to areas impacted by the storm.
In coordination with FEMA, Newsom is deploying members of the California Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) in response to recovery efforts from Helene, which made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in Florida.
Personnel being deployed includes 151 firefighters and members of US&R task forces from the Orange Fire Authority, Riverside Fire Department and San Diego Fire Department. Members of the California Swiftwater Task Force from the Los Angeles Fire Department are also being deployed.
Deployed personnel will focus on search and rescue efforts along with incident management and emergency operations.
A press release from Newom’s office said the deployment has no impact on the state’s emergency response and firefighting capabilities.
“These highly trained individuals perform search and rescue operations in the most challenging conditions — whether it’s collapsed structures, flooded areas, or dangerous debris,” CAL OES Director Nancy Ward said in the release. “Their ability to swiftly locate survivors, provide medical care, and navigate extreme environments makes a world of difference in saving lives when every second counts.”
Hurricane Helene has devastated a portion of the southeastern portion of the country, killing at least 40 people in four states and causing severe damage that is expected to cost between $15 billion to $26 billion, the Associated Press reported.
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