Colorado Task Force 1 deployed to assist with Hurricane Helene relief

LAKEWOOD, Colo. ( KDVR ) — Colorado Task Force 1 deployed on Wednesday to assist in operations for Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Helene is expected to be a Category 4 hurricane when it makes landfall in Florida on Thursday and local agencies are stepping up to help, specifically Colorado Task Force 1. The task force is sending a 45-member team to Chattanooga, Tennessee for staging.

CO-TF1 is one of 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue teams across the country and one of 15 being deployed for this storm. CO-TF1 leader Steve Aseltine has been on the force for years and knows what to expect, while also knowing how unpredictable gulf storms can be.

“The situation is never the same, it’s always dynamic and so we have to be prepared to fulfill the needs, whatever they are,” Aseltine said.

West Metro Fire is the sponsoring agency, but within the task force, there are numerous agencies from around the state represented.

“Our task force is made up of not only fire departments but civilian personnel. We have structural specialists, we’re traveling with a doctor, we have a K-9 handler and many of those people are leaving their daily jobs to come with us and help,” Aseltine said.

Local agencies in the path of the storm work with FEMA to determine the resources needed. CO-TF1 is prepared for what lies ahead as they wait out those further instructions past Chattanooga.

“I’ve been in quite a few situations that were tough and it’s hard work. My job is to keep our folks safe, do the greatest amount of good for the folks that are there that need our help and hope to represent West Metro, Colorado and the FEMA system as best we can.” Aseltine said.

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