Ohio Task Force 1 has been activated due to the potential for Tropical Storm Helene to become a major hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico.

The team will deploy 82 members skilled in the various aspects of search and rescue operations, including water rescue and K-9,” OH-TF1 said.

An Indiana task force will respond to a tropical storm expected to hit Florida and the southeastern United States later this week.

VA-TF2 has frequently been activated to assist with natural disaster relief, most recently in August while assisting emergency responders in Georgia and South Carolina respond to Tropical Storm Debby. They went to Florida last year to help respond to Hurricane Idalia, a category 4 storm.

Eight members of Virginia Task Force 2 (VA-TF2) have deployed to Florida to support with Tropical Storm Helene, formerly known as Potential Tropical Cyclone #9.

IFD Battalion Chief Rita Reith said IN-TF1 will be taking 80 personnel to help with any emergency response that's needed.

As Tropical Storm Helene gains strength in the Gulf of Mexico, Florida's Gulf Coast communities are on high alert. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warns that Helene could rapidly intensify into a major hurricane by Thursday,