Some of South Florida’s top first responders returned home early Thursday morning after spending the last week in Puerto Rico following the devastation from Hurricane Maria.
Florida Task Force 1, consisting of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Crews, and Task Force 2 which was equipped with dozens of crew members from across the area led by the City of Miami arrived on the island ahead of the Category 4 storm’s landfall last Wednesday.
In Puerto Rico, the team of first responders worked side by side with local authorities to assist in search and rescue operations.
“A lot of the issues they had were standing water, water that had come out of all the lakes and a lot of washed out bridges,” said Task Force 2 member Craig Ridelman. “So, a lot of people are stranded.”
"There are a lot of challenges in the future but nothing they can't overcome with time and resources," said task force leader Jeff Rousse.
It was the third mission in less than a month for Task Force 2, which was also called to respond in Texas following Hurricane Harvey and in the Florida Keys for Hurricane Irma.
"They work hard, they come home and we are very happy to receive them," said fire chief Joseph Zahralban. "In this particular case, it's a little unique in that we know that after Irma they were personally affected and we still had to send them to Puerto Rico to do some of that search and rescue work."
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The risky missions have also taken a toll on the loved ones of those first responders.
"We are all very worried, but we know that they are extremely trained and they go with a great group of guys," said Suzette Rodriguez, wife of one task force member. "They are very safe and careful and they go out there to do what they love to do - be able to help everybody."
