Missouri special task force starts assessment in Florida

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ.)

After driving 18 hours, a Missouri Task Force One specialty team began its assessment in Cape Coral, Florida.

The team deployed Tuesday and Gale Blomenkamp -- Boone County Fire Protection District assistant chief -- said they should be there 10 days or fewer. The team consists of one team leader, two small unmanned aircraft systems, drone pilots and one geographic information specialist.

Blomenkamp said Thursday that crews on were focusing on drone mapping, GIS mapping and situational assessments for Cape Coral and the intercostal waterways in and around the city. 

"What they want to do, is be able to give the locals that situational awareness, show them the areas that are most damaged," Blomenkamp said. "So we can get our drones up in the air and we can fly that. Then they can come back and map that out for the locals."

More local crews are also preparing for a possible trip to Florida.

Boone Electric Cooperative remains on standby, but officials said they are prepared to send five trucks and 10 linemen.

The American Red Cross also announced a plan Friday morning to deploy emergency-response vehicles to Florida.