Local FEMA crews respond to NY, NJ

NEW YORK (WAVY) - 10 On Your Side was the only local Hampton Roads news outlet to send crews to New York and New Jersey, where a Virginia Beach-based FEMA task force responded.

Virginia Task Force Two, made up of 80 firefighters from Hampton Roads, has been assigned by FEMA to help with relief efforts. The urban search and rescue team has responded to practically every major natural disaster in recent years, including Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti. 

Crews spent two days helping out in Staten Island, going door-to-door and ensuring residents were okay and all were accounted for. Officials say a record more than 3,000 homes were visited by the crew.

"A lot of these houses, nobody's talked to them," Task Force Two member Travis Wood said. "They may have people with medical issues or haven't been able to get out of their house or get the help that they need."

As of Friday afternoon, the crew was stationed at Fort. Dix in New Jersey waiting for further orders.