Volunteers from New Jersey Task Force 1 headed to the Gulf Coast Tuesday evening to assist those impacted by Hurricane Michael in Florida.

The task force just returned from the Carolinas after helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence a week and a half ago.

"We are constantly in disaster mode. We came back, and we were going right into a rehab mode to make sure all the equipment was properly stowed so that we are ready to go right back out the door,” said Hamilton firefighter Jarred Pierson.

About 14 vehicles loaded with volunteers will head south, along with boats, rafts and all the supplies needed to help victims of what could be the worst storm to hit the Florida Panhandle in decades.

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The all-volunteer task force is mostly made up of firefighters, medics and police officers, all under the New Jersey State Police banner. Each member goes through a vigorous training program to prepare for what they'll face. 

“The people that do this type of work are all volunteers. They want to make communities…a safe place to live,” said New Jersey State Police Sgt. Mike Poskey. “They want to do a nice job for their community to help everyone out."

The task force will also bring along water-rescue gear. Meteorologists are predicting 12-foot storm surge during the storm.

“After [Superstorm] Sandy the national response, different FEMA teams and state teams, came to help out. This is our chance to pay back and help other states and other communities the way they helped us in Sandy,” Poskey said.

New Jersey Task Force 1 was founded in 1996. The team has been deployed to many significant disasters, including after the Sept. 11 attacks and after Hurricane Katrina.