Governor Chris Christie today announced that NJ Task Force 1 has been activated and will deploy to Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to assist as Florida prepares for Hurricane Irma, which has caused devastation in the Caribbean. A FEMA USNR Type 1 Team will be deployed this evening, consisting of 80 team members, three tractor trailers, two box trucks, five sprinter vans, two command vehicles, and an additional F-250 towing vehicle. In addition, six boats, a water support trailer and a fleet service truck will be deployed.

“New Jersey is well-equipped and ready to assist in handling any crisis that arises in the wake of Hurricane Irma,” said Governor Christie. “When our state was in the midst of an emergency during Superstorm Sandy, other states responded with the help we needed and now, we will be there for our friends in Florida, as we have been for those in Texas and Louisiana still reeling from Hurricane Harvey.”

Earlier this week, Governor Christie approved the deployment of New Jersey Army National Guard soldiers to provide emergency response support for people expected to be impacted by Hurricane Irma in Florida. Citizen Soldiers from the 253rd Transportation Company, a historic unit in Cape May outfitted with high-wheeled vehicles, is deploying to a staging area outside of Florida.

New Jersey Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team was deployed last month to Texas to aid victims of Hurricane Harvey.