More than 100 City of Raleigh employees have pitched in to help our neighbors in western North Carolina since Hurricane Helene moved through the area.
City Manager Marchell Adams-David said it’s a good example of what public service is all about: serving the community.
“The response of our employees is something of which we can all be proud,” she said. “It has been inspiring to see that people are not running away from the devastation, but our folks are heading to it.”
The number of City of Raleigh employees helping out with the recovery changes weekly and we expect the efforts to assist will continue for the foreseeable future.
Raleigh Fire Department
The first team of Raleigh firefighters left for Haywood County before Helene even swept through the mountains. They were part of the state’s Task Force 8 Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team. They were instrumental in aiding with evacuations and rescues of dozens of people. Since then three more USAR teams have rotated through, with the latest team in Mitchell County. Shortly after the storm hit, a crew of eight firefighters also went to Buncombe County to relieve Asheville firefighters who needed a break to get rest and be with their own families.
Raleigh 9-1-1
The morning Helene tore through the mountains, 34 telecommunicators at the Raleigh-Wake 9-1-1 Center answered 911 calls rerouted from western N.C. They handled more than 1500 calls in three hours, the majority from the mountains. Telecommunicators told us it was heartbreaking to hear the cries for help, but they tried to provide hope in those early morning hours.
Since then, three telecommunicators have headed west to relieve their counterparts in the other part of the state.
Raleigh Police Department
Nearly 40 members of the Raleigh Police Department are in the Black Mountain area to help with law enforcement and recovery efforts. The deployed members will remain in western North Carolina until they are relieved by a second contingent of RPD officers and staff.
Raleigh Water
As you can imagine restoring water to the mountain communities has been a top priority. Raleigh Water sent a convoy of essential supplies, including 50 tons of pipes, to help repair and restore the damaged water system. Five Raleigh Water employees were part of this first wave of the relief effort and a second crew recently left to help.
Raleigh Planning and Development
Seven inspectors from Planning and Development deployed to Chimney Rock, Lake Lure, and Black Mountain. There, they joined other inspectors from across the state. In six days, the team assessed 4,000 homes and businesses.
Teddy the Therapy Dog
Dealing with the devastation and loss experienced in western North Carolina can be traumatic. That’s why Teddy, the Raleigh Police Department’s therapy dog, visited the Raleigh-Wake 9-1-1 Center. He also traveled to Hendersonville to help ease the stress of first responders there.
