HILLSVILLE, Va. — Members of the Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Swiftwater Rescue Team, VA-2, are on their way to southwest Virginia to support the emergency response to Hurricane Helene in the region.

Eight members of VA-2 will support the Department of Emergency Management’s Water Rescue Team's response efforts in Hillsville, Virginia, where flood warnings were issued Thursday morning as showers hit the area. Once there, the team will be in a position to assist many of the areas along the storm's path – including cities like Asheville, North Carolina, which could see up to six to 12 inches of rain.

Helene is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane in Florida’s Big Bend Thursday night. The National Hurricane Center warns intense rainfall expected through Sunday could cause "catastrophic and potentially life-threatening" flooding throughout the southeast.

VBFD’s Swiftwater Rescue Team was activated Wednesday morning, as the storm began to strengthen. Members are expected to arrive in Hillsville by 6 p.m. Thursday to await further assignment.

VA-02 is one of 30 Swiftwater Rescue Teams stationed throughout the Commonwealth. This is the third time the team has been deployed since it was formed back in 2022.