In response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, New Jersey has dispatched nearly 100 members of its Task Force One (NJ-TF1) to assist in recovery efforts in Asheville, North Carolina. The city was severely impacted by the hurricane, which triggered heavy rainfall, flooding, road closures, and extensive property damage. The NJ-TF1 team, trained for disaster response, will provide critical support in search and rescue operations and help local communities recover from the storm.

Hurricane Helene, a powerful Category 4 storm, initially made landfall in Florida's "Big Bend" region, with winds reaching 140 mph. As it weakened and moved northward, it unleashed torrential rains on Georgia, the Carolinas, and Tennessee, causing severe flooding and extensive damage to infrastructure. Asheville was one of the areas most severely impacted by the storm, with at least 30 deaths reported in the county, contributing to an overall death toll of 91 across Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Kentucky, and Tennessee.

In addition to the NJ-TF1 efforts, 14 members of New Jersey’s All-Hazards Incident Management Team have been deployed to Georgia. Their mission includes providing ground support, managing facilities, overseeing operations, coordinating resources, ensuring public communication, and maintaining safety oversight. Volunteers from the Red Cross of New Jersey are also on the ground, operating alongside a mobile command center and a second disaster response vehicle.

To aid in power restoration efforts, about 45 line workers and support staff from Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) have been sent to western Georgia, where they are working with Georgia Power to repair damaged grids and restore electricity. These workers are part of a larger contingent of 200 line workers and support personnel from FirstEnergy, JCP&L’s parent company, who have been dispatched to assist local power companies. These crews are working around the clock to restore power and assist in recovery efforts as communities begin the long process of rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, according to Lakewood Alerts.

Theresa Lucas