SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced Thursday the deployment of California firefighters to assist FEMA ahead of a series of stroms in Kentucky. At least six people were killed in the initial wave of storms in the South and Midwest.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency because of severe storms forecasted to generate heavy rain and damaging winds that might lead to tornadoes, hail and flooding.

According to Beshear, residents in western Kentucky are bracing for historic rain and flooding.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, also known as Cal OES, will deploy four specially trained firefighters from California’s Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Incident Support Team, the governor’s office said.

“California understands the threat extreme weather poses and stands with Kentucky ahead of the storms set to impact their state. These deployed resources will provide additional support to first responders across Kentucky to prepare and respond to storms,” Newsom said in a statement.

The deployment has no impact on California’s emergency response and firefighting capabilities.

Newsom’s office said the specialized team members deployed to Kentucky come from California US&R Task Forces 4, 5 and 8 from Oakland, Orange County and San Diego.

“As Kentucky prepares for a series of dangerous storms, we’re proud to send California-based firefighters with expertise in responding to this type of weather,” Cal OES Director Nancy Ward said in a statement. “Their experience will help bolster response efforts.”

The deployment builds on California’s continued efforts to aid other states during emergencies, Newsom’s office said.

Forecasters attributed the violent weather to warm temperatures, an unstable atmosphere, strong wind shear and abundant moisture streaming from the Gulf.