Colorado search and rescue crew heading to North Carolina after widespread flooding

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Task Force 1, which was deployed to the southeastern United States to assist with the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, will head to Ashville, North Carolina, to assist the area after widespread flooding hit the city.

CO-TF1 is one of 28 Federal Emergency Management Agency task forces that specialize in urban search and rescue. The task force first arrived in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Friday before they headed to Pinellas County, Florida, which is near Tampa.

The group spent Saturday conducting search operations in several neighborhoods that were under mandatory evacuation orders. Nine people died, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and some have been publicly identifie d.

West Metro Fire Rescue, which sponsors the task force, shared that many people were trapped inside homes by floodwaters.

At least nine people who did not evacuate died, according to a post shared by WMFR. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that number.

WMFR said the task force is headed to Asheville, North Carolina, and should arrive there by Sunday evening.

Ashville suffered widespread flooding that damaged roads and cut off power and cell phone service to the city, which had an estimated population of around 93,000 people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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