TAYLOR COUNTY, FLORIDA — First responders are arriving in Taylor County from across Florida to survey the hardest hit areas and look for survivors.
Florida’s chief financial officer and state fire marshal, Jimmy Patronis, says it’s an all-hands-on-deck situation.
“Those men and women will literally go door to door to check on people’s well-being and they’ll visit those places up to five times,” Patronis said.
The team of 900 first responders consists of trauma surgeons, structural engineers, K-9 units, EMTs and fire and rescue teams. Most of the experts are from Fort Pierce, Palm Beach County, Broward County and Miami-Dade County. Virginia and Pennsylvania teams have also arrived and are working to assist the Florida responders.
“It’s pretty humbling. Some of these men and women were in Maui last week, and they are boots on the ground in Orlando right now,” Patronis said.
Urban search and rescue teams from Texas and Missouri are also en route to assist and will be arriving later today.
