MIAMI — Miami Mayor Eileen Higgins announced on Friday that the city’s fire rescue personnel were preparing to deploy to Venezuela’s disaster zone.
Read more Helping Venezuela: Centro Comunitario AFE hosts collection drive in Miami-Dade
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.
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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
Read more Helping Venezuela: Goodwill at El Arepazo feeds Global Empowerment Mission’s team effort
— City of Miami (@CityofMiami) June 27, 2026
More HELPING VENEZUELA coverage
- Centro Comunitario AFE hosts collection drive in Miami-Dade
- Weston-based charity partners with local pharmacy
- Veteran-led Project DYNAMO delivers 20,000 pounds of aid in 1st 48 hours
- Altruism at El Arepazo feeds Global Empowerment Mission’s team effort
- Salvadoran rescuers work to free 15-year-old survivor in Caraballeda
- Food For The Poor packs disaster relief kits with ‘hopeful’ hand-written notes
- U.S. Southern Command focuses on airport damage
- State Department deploys Miami-Dade search-and-rescue team
- Miami Beach opens 4 new aid drop-off locations
- Miramar to keep 6 aid drop-off locations open 24/7
- Miami-Dade’s tax collector opens 11 drop-off locations
- Doral opens 4 aid drop-off locations
- Aid drop-off location opens in Homestead
- Starlink offers free service through July 25, but a kit is $470
- International Medical Corps deploys staff, needs donations
- Save The Children asks for emergency fund donations
- Samaritan’s Purse focuses on ‘emergency field hospital’
- Red Cross asks for Disaster Response Emergency Fund donations
- UN asks for donations for ‘underfunded’ program for kids
- World Vision asks for ‘disaster relief fund’ donations
- World Central Kitchen asks for donations for fresh meals
- United Way Miami launches ‘Operation Helping Hands’
