Virginia Task Force 1 heads to Jamaica to assist with recovery efforts

Virginia Task Force 1 helping with recovery efforts in Jamaica

Hurricane Melissa is leaving a path of destruction as it moves toward Bermuda. More than 30 people have been killed and that number is expected to grow but help has arrived from right here at home. FOX 5’s Shirin Rajaee has the latest on the rescue efforts by Virginia Task Force.

WASHINGTON - Hurricane Melissa has devastated islands across the Caribbean, leaving a path of destruction in its wake. 

So far, it’s reported that more than 30 people have been killed, and that number is expected to keep rising. But help has arrived from right here at home. 

Task Force 1 responds:

While the hurricane has moved away from the Caribbean, the devastation is widespread, and officials are trying to make sense of all the damage and they need all the help they can get.

Virginia Task Force 1 - International Urban Search and Rescue was mobilized by the U.S. State Department. The team, consisting of 34 people, four dogs and 20 tons of equipment to assist with life-saving efforts, touched down in Jamaica on Wednesday. 

After a long day of travel, they spoke with FOX 5, saying they were going to hit the ground first thing Friday morning to assist with recovery efforts.

"We'll be going out with search and rescue dogs. We're trying to cover as much ground as possible, solve those, and also conduct these assessments cut off from communication for a long period of time," John Morrison with Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue said.

An island devastated:

The images are shocking — roads are underwater, power lines are down and homes have been flattened. 

In the Parish of St. Elizabeth, authorities say entire communities are underwater. The storm's powerful winds left a deep mark on the entire country.

Task Force 1 is coordinating with officials in Jamaica and set up a base camp on Thursday.

Challenges ahead:

Morrison says helping restore communication will be key in finding out what medical clinics and schools need — a critical challenge as hundreds of thousands of people remain in the dark, without power.

The search for survivors in collapsed structures will be a grueling mission as they coordinate with Jamaican and U.S. relief agencies.

He says time is of the essence and their four dogs will be critical in this work.

"They're very resourceful, they're efficient at covering large grounds, these dogs and they really amplify our efforts," Morrison said. "The same people that are out here doing these search and rescue efforts, the lessons that we learn here and train people in D.C. and around the country. We implement any changes we need back home."

Morrison says the team will remain on the ground for however long they're needed. Right now, they are set up with everything they need for two weeks, but that can certainly be extended.