DOVER — They faced enormous challenges responding to the deadly Hurricane Helene, but A.J. Schall was certain they were up to it.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency director was referring to the 13 first responders who traveled to western North Carolina for a 10-day mission.
Coming from multiple stations and departments, the firefighters, EMTs and paramedics departed the Delaware Fire School in Dover at 6 a.m. Saturday.
Operations began Sunday morning, and Mr. Schall said the group has spent much time on search and rescue missions as a swift water rescue team.
“There were some nerves, some nervous excitement when I talked to them but I personally know — probably know — nine of the 13 of them and I’ve been out on fire runs and other rescues and they’re more than capable.”
The way Mr. Schall has heard it from the Delawareans “There’s a lot of devastation there, a lot of washed out roads and bridges, a lot of areas that would take them 10 minutes to get to are taking an hour, hour and a half because of the way they have to navigate around the damaged bridges that had washed away, homes that were sitting on hills or mountains are now hanging over a cliff.”