BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - First responders from all over Alabama are currently in North Carolina, assisting with search and rescue efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. Firefighters, including those with swift water rescue experience from Hoover, Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Calera, Vestavia and other areas are part of the Alabama Mutual Aid System.

Crews on the ground have described the area as completely devastated. Sadly, neighbors have lost their homes, businesses, and loved ones. Teams from Alabama are conducting searches, surveys of the remaining area, and welfare checks on neighbors.

Many of the first responders from Alabama arrived in North Carolina Friday and were initially supposed to stay for 7 days, but due to the extensive devastation, their stay may be extended.

“There is no access in or out of the Asheville area. I think today it is better, they have cleared some roads just to get people in and out and for emergency response,” says BFRS Battalion Chief Clay Hendon. “But as this incident unfolded, the Asheville area was completely cut off. There was no way to get anyone in. As our crews arrived on the scene and they got together with all the resources, they all had to be flown into the areas that they are going to be covering for their search and rescue efforts.”

The responders initially went to assist with swift water rescue, but departments like Birmingham and Calera say their duties have changed to search and recovery efforts.

“That kind of work is very labor-intensive, having to search through debris fields of houses, and a lot of timbers and trees have all been washed downstream. They’re in good spirits, but it’s still emotionally taxing to deal with such devastating loss,” says Calera Fire Chief Sean Kendrick.

There is no cell service, but leaders are able to check in with crews each night through their Starlink service. These first responders say most of these areas are completely destroyed. These teams are exhausted but are determined and committed to help as much as they can.

“The area they are working is a small community. Basically, it is like a valley, and when the flood water came through, it just washed everything downstream. Most of the folks in that area are related, and there are several people still missing. So it’s obviously a very traumatic situation, especially for the people who live there. They’ve lost everything: all their houses and businesses; everything is gone,” says Chief Kendrick.

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