VIRGINIA, USA — FEMA has activated the Virginia Task Force 1 to help in response to Hurricane Idalia as the storm heads toward Florida.
An 80-person Type I urban search and rescue team will be sent to the impacted regions Monday evening, according to a tweet from VA-TF1 / USA-1 - Urban Search and Rescue.
Idalia is continuing to strengthen as it moves through the Yucatan Peninsula. The storm became a Category 1 hurricane early Monday morning. The hurricane will continue to move through very favorable conditions for development through Tuesday afternoon and strengthen into a category 2 hurricane and eventually become a major category 3 hurricane prior to landfall Wednesday morning.
VA-Task Force 1 activated to respond to Hurricane Idalia
Florida residents loaded up on sandbags and evacuated from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as Hurricane Idalia intensified Monday and forecasters predicted it would hit in days as a major hurricane with potentially life-threatening storm surges. It is the first storm to hit Florida this hurricane season and a potentially big blow to the state, which is also dealing with lingering damage from last year's Hurricane Ian.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in 46 counties, a broad swath that stretches across the northern half of the state from the Gulf Coast to the Atlantic Coast. The state has mobilized 1,100 National Guard members, who have 2,400 high-water vehicles and 12 aircraft at their disposal for rescue and recovery efforts.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.