Texas A&M Task Force 1 continues deployment in North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

BURNSVILLE, North Carolina. (KBTX) - Texas A&M Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) continues its deployment in North Carolina, assisting with search and rescue operations in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The task force, which deployed close to two weeks ago, remains focused on wide area searches and providing logistical support to residents affected by the hurricane.

The task force, FEMA, and a state-recognized team specializing in urban search and rescue, water rescues, and disaster response, was originally deployed to Florida on Sept. 24 in anticipation of Hurricane Helene’s landfall. After completing initial operations in Florida, the team was reassigned to North Carolina where the task force has been working alongside local agencies in the mountainous terrain of Yancey County.

TX-TF1, which includes firefighters and rescue professionals from across Texas, has deployed to numerous disasters in the past, including Hurricane Katrina and the 9/11 attacks. These rescue professionals’ current mission in North Carolina is part of a larger, nationwide response to Hurricane Helene, which has caused widespread damage throughout the region.