Central Florida first responders head to Panhandle to help with Sally recovery efforts

WINTER PARK, Fla. — A team of Central Florida first responders will soon head to the Panhandle to help with recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally.

A strike team consisting of ambulances from Orange County Fire Rescue, Osceola County Fire Rescue, Seminole County Fire Rescue and the City of St. Cloud Fire Department will soon head north from Central Florida.

WATCH: Sally becomes a tropical storm; catastrophic flooding threat continues for Florida Panhandle

“This is why firefighters get into the business -- we’re there to render aid wherever it’s needed,” said Mike Wajda, assistant chief for Orange County Fire Rescue. “Secondly, this is our ability to (pay) it forward -- we’ve been impacted in Central Florida by hurricanes and have received this exact kind of aide before from other areas of Florida.”

Neighbors in downtown Pensacola have reported water coming into their homes.

‘Leave our colonial past behind’: Barbados removes Queen Elizabeth II as island nation’s ruler

Also in Pensacola, tropical storm wind gusts wiped out a portion of the Three Mile Bridge, pushing a barge with a crane on it toward I-10 over the Bay.

The storm has knocked out power for about half a million people across three states.

IN-DEPTH: Sally downgraded to a tropical depression

Top Stories:

1. Orange County cancels another high school football game due to COVID-19

2. Man found shot to death in car at Daytona Beach apartment complex

3. High school football guide: How Central Florida schools are preparing for game days during the pandemic