Harrisburg, PA – The Shapiro Administration is supporting ongoing response efforts in North Carolina after the remnants of Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic fatal flooding there, particularly in the western part of the state.
The destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast is devastating. Lori and I are praying for the families and communities impacted by this natural disaster,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “Pennsylvania Task Force 1 is on the ground in North Carolina to help with recovery efforts, and I've deployed resources from PEMA and our National Guard. I thank these brave and dedicated Pennsylvanians for doing their part to help their fellow Americans.”
“The scope and magnitude of the damage in North Carolina and across the southeast is devastating – and as Governor Shapiro said, our thoughts and prayers are with all of the folks who have lost someone and the communities who are working to rebuild,” said Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) Director Randy Padfield. “Pennsylvania is deploying significant resources to support our partners in North Carolina and we’re committed to assisting emergency management efforts with the resources they need to support their communities.”
Four members of the Pennsylvania Incident Management Team (PA-IMT) arrived in Avery County, North Carolina over the weekend to support personnel in the county emergency operations center. PA-IMT members on this deployment are from the Department of Corrections and Pennsylvania State Police.
The Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (PA-HART) left Pennsylvania via ground yesterday and via air this morning, and are enroute to their assigned staging area in Salisbury, North Carolina to begin immediate operations. Missions could include search and rescue operations or delivery of critical supplies to isolated communities. PA-HART members on this deployment are from the PA National Guard and PEMA.
“We’ll stay in close contact with emergency management officials in North Carolina and other southern states that may need assistance,” Padfield said. “This will be a long-term response and recovery effort, and we are ready to help in whatever way we can.”
The PA-IMT and PA-HART deployments have been coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a formal agreement that allows states to share resources, such as personnel or equipment, during disasters. EMAC was created to serve as an all-hazards national mutual aid system and has been ratified by the U.S. Congress with participation from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands. All costs associated with the deployment are paid by the requesting state.
Last week, 45 members and support personnel from Pennsylvania-Task Force 1 (PA-TF1) traveled on federal deployment to help with search and rescue efforts. They are currently working in Marion, North Carolina. The team includes structural engineers, canines and their handlers, rescue specialists, doctors and hazardous materials specialists.
EMAC deployments are expected to last one week, and PA-TF1 is expected remain in North Carolina for two weeks. All missions could be extended if necessary.