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The team of 12, ten students and two instructors, are getting closer to the superstorm known as Sandy.

"Obviously flooding can be very destructive, and so a lot of these people are trying to adjust to a new reality."

A part of the International Rescue and Relief program at Union College, these students are trained to save lives.

"Everybody on the team is trained in technical rope rescue and swift water rescue, and we also have a fair bit of experience doing rescue operations."

In the van is instructor Aaron Kent. This isn't his first time responding to a disaster. Kent went to Alabama last year after dozens of tornadoes ravaged the state.

He doesn't know what they'll do when they get to Pennsylvania, but he knows his team will help in any way they can.

"The most likely scenario that we're going to be doing searches of areas that have been flooded. We'll be going you know door to door making sure that folks, that houses are empty or if they're occupied the people inside are ok."

Full of excitement and nerves, senior Kalie Saunders doesn't know what to expect either. She went to Haiti after the devastating earthquake in 2010.

"It's whatever they need right now. I know I can't stay there and be with them in the months in the future but I can take care of whatever it is they need right now whether that's food or warmth or safety that's what I can take care of and that's what I want to do."