INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana's Task Force One is at work on the East Coast, helping those affected by superstorm Sandy.

Team member Thomas Neal spoke with RTV6 by phone from Long Island, N.Y.

"Basically what we're seeing is a large flood event," Neal said. "We do see a lot of trees down, a lot of power lines down." 

More than 80 men and women from 22 Indiana agencies make up the elite search and rescue team.

"Most of the boats are now inland, some of them are on top of individual homes garages, commercial buildings," Neal said.

Thursday, the team went door to door talking to Long Island residents who rode out the storm, "(to) make sure their neighbors, as well any other people they may know of, are accounted for," Neal said.

Crews are finding that people who didn't evacuate -- and have been cooped up in their homes for days -- want out now.

"Individuals maybe have some medical issues, there's no heat, no electricity, sewage treatment facilities are down," Neal said.

They're giving them a helping hand.

There's no timeline on how long Task Force One will be on the East Coast, but Neal said they're prepared to stay as long as their help is needed.