TRAVERSE CITY -- As millions of people along the East Coast brace themselves for the wrath of Hurricane Irene -- a group of brave men from the Traverse City Coast Guard step up to the plate.
A search and rescue crew made up of 2 pilots, a flight mechanic and a rescue swimmer left Friday afternoon for a base in Columbia, South Carolina.
The game plan is to team up with other coast guard crews from across the state and then follow the storm.
Because North Carolina is the first in line to be hit, the strategic location allows teams to react fast to whatever path Irene decides to take.
Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City Commander Chris Chase says, “We are going to do whatever necessary to help the people in trouble there. Could end up hosting people, picking them up off a roof top, could be delivering water food, water it takes."
To check out the entire story and find out more details of the mission click on the video above.