Miami-Dade Fire Rescue deployed 88 search-and-rescue specialists to the Florida Panhandle to help communities recover from Hurricane Isaias, which struck near Destin on Friday, Oct. 9, as a Category 2 storm with sustained winds of 105 mph.

Florida Task Force 1, the department's Urban Search and Rescue unit, departed Homestead around 6 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, after the state activated the team ahead of the hurricane's landfall.

The group included four canine teams, physicians, structural assessment specialists and communications personnel, according to a Miami-Dade Fire Rescue announcement.

The task force initially traveled to Tallahassee for staging and coordination with state officials before moving toward the areas threatened by the storm.

Rescue team equipped for extended deployment

Florida Task Force 1 is trained to conduct searches in damaged or collapsed buildings, provide emergency medical care, assess structural hazards and support communications in disaster zones.

The team also has swift-water and flood rescue capabilities, allowing members to operate in communities affected by rising water.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue said the unit deployed with specialized equipment and logistical support intended to limit demands on emergency resources in affected communities.

The deployment was planned to last approximately 14 days, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Capt. Orestes González told WSVN on Oct. 8.

"Back at the home front, it's a lot. We have to get our kids prepared, our family prepared, because we're going to be gone for an extended amount of time," González said.

The department's task force has responded to major disasters across the United States and internationally, including Hurricane Katrina, the World Trade Center collapse and the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse.

Isaias brings destructive winds to Panhandle

Isaias made landfall near Destin at approximately 9:30 p.m. Friday with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph, according to the Florida Division of Emergency Management's storm update.

Wind gusts reached 116 mph in portions of Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. The hurricane also caused flooding, downed trees and widespread power outages across Northwest Florida.

The storm killed at least four people in Florida and Alabama, according to The Associated Press.

Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency covering 27 Florida counties as state and local agencies mobilized personnel and equipment for the response.

Miami-Dade responders assist with recovery assessments

Following the hurricane, Florida Task Force 1 members began evaluating conditions and coordinating with local emergency agencies, according to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's updates.

The department shared deployment updates on X, documenting the team's movement and work in the affected region.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also praised the responders for deploying to help communities outside South Florida.

As of Sunday, Oct. 11, the team remained involved in field operations and response assessments. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue had not released a confirmed total of rescues or completed structural assessments from the deployment.