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Hurricanes & Storms

35 from Virginia Beach rescue team head to Louisiana for Hurricane Ida

The Virginian-Pilot
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This satellite image shows Hurricane Ida crossing western Cuba. The storm struck Cuba on Friday and threatened to slam into Louisiana with far greater force over the weekend (NOAA via AP)

This satellite image shows Hurricane Ida crossing western Cuba. The storm struck Cuba on Friday and threatened to slam into Louisiana with far greater force over the weekend (NOAA via AP) (AP)

Virginia Beach — As areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast brace for Hurricane Ida, a search and rescue team from Virginia Beach is on its way to help.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has activated the Virginia Beach-based urban search and rescue team, Virginia Task Force 2, sending 35 members to Alexandria, Louisiana, to await orders. The team departed at about 10 p.m. Friday.

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The forecast projects Ida will make landfall as a dangerous major hurricane on Sunday. Areas along the Gulf Coast will start to experience effects of Ida today.

The task force is one of 28 FEMA urban search and rescue teams around the country. The Virginia Beach Fire Department is its sponsoring agency.

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The team was also deployed earlier this month to assist with Hurricane Henri.

Elisha Sauers, 757-839-4754, elisha.sauers@pilotonline.com

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