Photo by @WNCN.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made an immediate activation request to the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s (LACoFD) California Task Force-2 (CATF-2) on Monday evening, September 10, 2018, to respond to Hurricane Florence in North Carolina. A 16-member Swiftwater Team and an Incident Support Team member quickly deployed and drove across the country with equipment and boats in tow.
The team, led by Battalion Chief Dennis Cross, arrived in Cumberland County safely late Wednesday while residents continued to evacuate and communities were on high-alert in anticipation of the storm’s arrival.
As Hurricane Florence slowly moved inland late Thursday, the CATF-2 Swiftwater Team was standing by in a tactical pause, according to Technical Operations Chief, Robert Harris. “The team is safe and sound, and prepared to give their best in assisting with water rescues as needed,” he added.