Members of an urban search-and-rescue team from New Jersey, dispatched to help evacuate the people of North Carolina amid Tropical Storm Florence, aided in the rescue of more than 100 people and 20 animals Friday, according to the state Office of Emergency Management.
New Jersey Task Force One also aided in one medical rescue and conducted structural damage assessments. Florence, which was downgraded from a hurricane Friday afternoon, has officially killed 12 people, as of 8 p.m. Saturday, including a mother and infant who were struck by debris falling on their house.
According to NJOEM spokeswoman Laura Connolly, more than 80 specially trained search-and-rescue personnel are currently in North Carolina.
Another member of the task force has been sent to the South Carolina Fire Academy to join the National Urban Search and Rescue Incident Support Team organized by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.