The rescue copters are working in pairs and much of the rescue footage you see is shot from them. One does the work, the other one is either a backup in case something goes wrong - or it's loaded with Marines and door gunners in case someone shoots at them.
The few newscopters that are up are *very* restricted as to fuel and are almost always of the Jetranger class without winches - short of landing on a house, they can't pick anyone up anyway. That said, in some of the news footage, I've seen private Jetrangers (and larger) doing exactly that and participating in the airlifts.
Thank you. I'm glad to hear that.