Helping Venezuela: Miami search-and-rescue team prepares to deploy

MIAMI — Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins announced on Friday that the city’s fire rescue personnel were preparing to deploy to Venezuela’s disaster zone.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava also met with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue personnel, who were also packing for deployment.

“This is something that is important work. We have one of the most well-trained, committed teams in the United States,” Higgins said, according to a video the city released on Friday night.

The U.S. State Department activated Florida Task Force 2, or FL-TF2, an urban search-and-rescue team of about 230, including physicians, structural engineers, hazardous material technicians, and K-9 handlers.

“It’s devastating what happened in Venezuela, so we are making sure that they have the support that they need, and we are going to send a team of 80 people,” Miami Commissioner Rolando Escalona said, according to the city’s video published on X.

The State Department also activated Florida Task Force 1, MDFR Chief Raied “Ray” Jadallah’s team, which has experience working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

After the devastating 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes struck late Wednesday, the Trump administration first announced the deployment of search-and-rescue teams from California and Virginia.

Related list: Drop-off locations in South Florida

Today, City of Miami leadership stood alongside Miami Fire Rescue personnel designated for deployment to Venezuela following a series of devastating earthquakes. The City reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to humanitarian relief as the federal government’s activation of USAR… pic.twitter.com/C2ul3VEOiT
— City of Miami (@CityofMiami) June 27, 2026