Columbia-based search and rescue experts heading to Florida for Hurricane Ian

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A specialty team that is part of a Columbia-based urban search and rescue group was expected to arrive in Florida on Wednesday to help amid Hurricane Ian.

The team, which is part of Missouri Task Force 1, was expected to get to Gainesville, Florida, at about 6 p.m. Wednesday. The team is called the Disaster Situational Awareness and Reconnaissance Team, the Boone County Fire Protection District said in a Facebook post. Task Force 1 is based at the district's Columbia headquarters.

The team has four members -- a leader, two drone pilots and one geographic information system specialist, the fire district said. Florida officials requested the team's help.

Two other task force members arrived in Florida earlier this week after being in Puerto Rico.

The specialty team was first used during the May 2019 tornado that tore through Jefferson City.

Hurricane Ian came ashore Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane, inundating Florida cities with a storm surge, heavy rain and high winds.