More members of Nebraska Task Force 1 left Monday morning to provide relief ahead of Hurricane Milton's landfall later this week on Florida's west coast.
Lincoln Fire and Rescue spokesperson MJ Lierman said 20 Nebraska Task Force 1 members who were not originally sent to provide aid after Hurricane Helene are heading toward North Carolina to replace other task force members so they can return home.
Last week, Battalion Chief Brad Thavenet said task force members are mainly spread out throughout the Carolinas. Command and other staff have been sent to various locations in the Southeast to help with rescues and deal with damage caused by Helene.
As of Monday, the death toll from Helene was up to 232.
Milton is currently a Category 5 hurricane. According to the Weather Channel, it is expected to reach the west coast of Florida by Wednesday and could have winds of up to 125 mph.
Lierman said command staff is making this personnel change ahead of any necessary aid Florida and other areas may need after Milton makes landfall.
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Originally, the task force deployed 45 crew members, more than 100,000 pounds of equipment and two K9 units.
Thavenet said last week that the task force will not leave until the mission is complete.
Gov. Jim Pillen announced Monday afternoon that the Nebraska Telecommunicator Emergency Response Team was sent to North Carolina Friday to continue aid efforts from the worst-hit areas after Helene.Â
According to a press release, the team's deployment follows a request from an interstate mutual aid agreement between all U.S. states and territories.
The team will stay in a gymnasium, which is being used to house other emergency responders from around the country.
"We are constantly communicating with those state and local partners to assess Nebraska's capacity to respond when those requests come in," Pillen said. "We will be doing the same as Hurricane Milton makes its approach toward Florida in the coming days."