Search and rescue team makes emotional return home after finding 11 dead from Helene

COLCHESTER, Vt. (WCAX/Gray News) - A search and rescue team in Vermont has returned home after spending more than two weeks helping hurricane rescue and recovery efforts.

Vermont’s Urban Search and Rescue team returned to the Green Mountains on Thursday after being in Florida and North Carolina for 17 days following the destruction left by Hurricane Helene.

The 21-person team left for Florida on Sept. 24. They were responsible for swift water rescues and recovery missions along with conducting several water searches on the Gulf Coast.

In North Carolina, the team was responsible for recovery missions and looking for victims who did not survive the storm.

For some members, the difficult mission was their first time being deployed out of state.

“Oftentimes we don’t get to interact with the family so much during tragedy. This was definitely arm and arm with family members throughout the event. It was challenging, but we had a mission to do, and we completed it and we feel good about it,” rescuer Josh Merriam said.

Team commander Mike Cannon says after arriving in North Carolina, the team recovered the bodies of 11 family members after their homes were swept away in a landslide.

“It was our job, and we felt like we were making a difference,” rescuer Taylor Peyton said.

Community members thanked the team for their service and they were greeted by state leaders upon their return.

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