Thirty-four members of Utah Task Force One have departed Utah for Dallas in preparation for Hurricane Dean.
The task force — members of the Unified Fire Authority and Salt Lake City Fire Department — was activated by FEMA and deployed to standby in Dallas as a precaution. The group left about 10:30 a.m. Sunday for the long road trip.
Task Force authorities say their involvement will be determined by the severity of the storm. It is unlikely that the team would be sent into Mexico to assist unless it received a presidential order allowing it to cross the border.
On Monday, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints reported that all of its missionaries in Jamaica are safe and that church leaders in the path of Hurricane Dean are working to help residents recover.
Safe housing has been arranged for missionaries in Mexico and bishops' storehouse personnel are preparing to ship humanitarian aid, if needed.
If the storm turns north to Texas, Utah's Red Cross reports that at least nine volunteers are on standby to travel to the region to assist.