HARRISBURG, Pa. — Almost four dozen people from a special Pennsylvania task force are heading to North Carolina to assist in response to Tropical Storm Debby.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said in a news release that PA-Task Force 1 was deployed to Raleigh on Wednesday.
Forty-five members are headed South.
"Our Commonwealth stands ready to help North Carolina — and any state that's affected by this storm — get back on their feet," Gov. Josh Shapiro said in the release.
PA-Task Force 1 is part of 28 teams that make up the National Urban Search and Rescue Response System that serves as a federal resource to be deployed throughout the nation.
PEMA Director Randy Padfield said Tropical Storm Debby is expected to bring "historic flooding" to the Atlantic coast.
"We are ready to support our fellow Americans both now and during their recovery in the weeks and months ahead," Padfield said.
Local forecast
The National Weather Service said remnants from Tropical Storm Debby will bring heavy rainfall to Pennsylvania from Thursday night into Friday.
Severe thunderstorms Wednesday brought nearly three inches of rain to parts of the Lehigh Valley and disrupted Musikfest. The weather service said flash flooding concerns will continue into Saturday.
The PEMA release encourages residents to review family safety plans and monitor local forecasts for severe weather over the next few days.
