Crews from Alabama are responding to North Carolina disaster relief. Swift water rescue technicians from Prattville, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Mountain Brook, Calera, Birmingham and Mobile are performing searches and welfare checks.
Widespread flooding from Hurricane Helene caused havoc in areas including Asheville and Spruce Pines, leaving residents without cell phone service, power, gas and water. Over 50 crews from other states responded.
The Alabama Mutual Aid System (AMAS), a program through the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, sent the swift water rescue teams.
“We will be teaming with other state and federal agencies to assist in search and rescue efforts in North Carolina,” the Prattville Fire Department announced. “This deployment will not affect our ability to provide services here should a local incident occur.”
Due to treacherous conditions, some crews were brought into disaster areas by helicopter. The Prattville Fire Department described those areas as “annihilated.”
“We ask that you join us and continue to pray for the safety of our personnel, as well as all of the first responders who are working this tragic event and all who have been affected by it,” Birmingham Fire-Rescue stated.
Other crews responded to Tennessee for rescue and cleanup efforts. The Cook Springs Fire Department sent three crewmembers.
Oneonta Fire & Rescue and Allgood Fire Department are collecting donations.
Alabama Power crews deployed to Georgia.
FEMA confirmed that Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are all in different stages of disaster response. Over 100 people are confirmed dead.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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