Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Urban Search and Rescue Team prepare supplies at RSW Airport in Fort Myers

Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Miami-Dade Urban Search and Rescue Team members landed at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers to prepare supplies before heading to locations where Hurricane Ian did the most harm.

On Thursday morning, the team left their headquarters in Miami.

In order to help with the search and rescue effort, K-9 units were also present at the airport.

The Surfside Condo collapse was the team’s first significant assignment; this will be their second.

The teams are waiting as they decide where they should travel in order to offer help.

Three military helicopters took off from the airport towards the barrier islands, including Sanibel, Captiva, and Fort Myers Beach, to conduct reconnaissance and evaluate the situation.

According to Crews, they have enough supplies to last 80 people for around two weeks. In case they come across gas or chemicals, they will disperse supplies like medication, generators, boats, and HAZMAT gear so they can wash themselves and others.

Since there is so much debris on the road, the crews have not yet left the airport to figure out how to get to these locations.