VIRGINIA BEACH — Members of a search-and-rescue task force that were deployed to Puerto Rico ahead of Hurricane Irma have been moved to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands to help with rescue efforts.
Virginia Task Force 2 Urban Search and Rescue Team sent 45 members to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Monday night to prepare for the anticipated arrival of the storm, according to the Virginia Beach Police Department.
According to NBC reports, Hurricane Irma left more than 1 million in Puerto Rico without power and killed at least 12 in the Caribbean.
Now, 11 members of the task force have been moved to St. Thomas because “things have been very active,” said Chief Michael Barakey, the assistant team leader of the task force.
They began search-and-rescue efforts early this morning as they wait for the rest of the Virginia Task Force 2 team to join them from Puerto Rico and the arrival of another 18 members directly to St. Thomas, according to the VBFD.
The team has also gotten a ferry that will help move cars and equipment to the island by 2 p.m. today if conditions allow.
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