Thanks to more than $2 million in search and rescue funding that was included in the Governor’s budget last year, and appropriated by the legislature, many swift water rescue teams across the state received new equipment this week to enhance response capacity or replace old, aging equipment.
“It’s important that North Carolina remain ready for future storms and this vital equipment will give emergency response professionals more of the tools they need to keep families safe,” said Governor Cooper.
“This is significant for our water rescue teams, because for many years we relied on limited grants to fund our search and rescue program,” said North Carolina Emergency Management Director Mike Sprayberry. “These new boats, motors and equipment will help make sure our water rescue teams are ready to respond anywhere floods happen.”
About $1.4 million was spent on new water rescue equipment, including 46 inflatable swift water rescue boats, 62 motors and accessories to support the teams, including fuel tanks, life jackets, dry suits, paddles and other gear to maintain the boats and motors.
Twenty-six state-sponsored water rescue teams from across North Carolina received gear this week including:
- Apex Fire Department
- Asheville Fire Department
- Alexander County Rescue Squad
- Blowing Rock Fire Department
- Brunswick County Emergency Services
- Burke County Emergency Services
- Buncombe County Emergency Services
- Cary Fire Department
- Charlotte Fire Department
- Cherokee Fire Department
- Davie County Rescue Squad
- Greensboro Fire Department
- Fayetteville Fire Department
- Greenville/New Bern Fire Departments
- Henderson County Emergency Services
- Lewisville Fire Department
- Lincoln County Emergency Services
- Lumberton Rescue
- Mooresville Fire Department
- New Hanover County Fire Department
- Onslow County Emergency Services
- Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill Fire Departments
- Rocky Mount Fire Department
- Rockingham County Emergency Services
- South Orange Rescue Squad
- Winston-Salem Fire Department
More information on North Carolina’s water rescue program is available here: https://www.ncdps.gov/emergency-management/search-rescue/swiftwater-search-rescue.
Photos and video from this week’s equipment distribution in Greensboro are available here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ncdps/albums/72157709537397036.
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