The latest local news, weather and high school sports in and around Columbia and Jefferson City

Update: 10/31/12 7:50 a.m.

Missouri Task Force 1 has arrived at McGuire Air Force Base and are receiving their mission.

All members are doing well and in good spirits.

Original Story:

At least 39 people are dead tonight in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

The storm has left more than 8 million people without power across the east coast.

Dozens of Mid-Missouri volunteers from several agencies are on their way to help storm victims.

Missouri Task Force One members are still are their way to Herndon, Virginia to get their assignments.  Volunteers with the local American Red Cross and the Columbia Water and Light Department are also heading east to help storm victims.

Missouri Task Force One members are going as fast as they can as they drive through the snowy Appalachian Mountains to reach their Virginia destination.  Task force members expect to help with water rescues when they get their orders.  These volunteers could not risk their lives to help others without the support of loved ones back home.

Task force spokesman Gale Blomenkamp said, “Without the support at the family level and employers, it just would not be possible.  We have a great duty to bring those people home safely and return them back to their families and their communities.”

Volunteers with the Columbia Water and Light Department arrived in Springfield, Ohio about 1:00 a.m. this morning.  Two foreman, nine linemen and one apprentice from Columbia are now in Cleveland trying to restore power to storm victims.

Columbia Water & Light spokesman Tony Cunningham said, “We are always concerned when we send men out of town or even here at work.  What they do is very dangerous.  They go into places now that have really dangerous conditions where trees have fallen or heavy snowfall has broken trees off or the lines are down.”

Four local Red Cross volunteers are providing food and assistance to storm victims in two emergency response vehicles.  Those volunteers are getting their orders in Middleton, New York.  A fifth local Red Cross volunteer is coordinating operations in Pennsylvania.

American Red Cross spokesman Dave Griffith said, “I don’t personally have anybody out there on the east coast.  Because we have some of our volunteers from here out there, I have a direct connection because of my relationship with them and concern for them.  They’ve done this before and they know what to expect.  Like I told someone today, we have the A-Team that’s out there right now.”