Greensboro Fire Department 2024-25 Annual Report

MISSION CRITICAL

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CFO SPECI L OPE ATIO STE

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TOTHE HURRIC NE HELENE C

ISIS

Since 2002, the Greensboro Fire Department (GFD) has maintained an Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) team as part of North Carolina Task Force 6. Over the last 23 years, the team has been deployed across the state, region, and beyond-most often for hurricanes and swift water emergencies. But nothing could have fully prepared us for what unfolded on September 27, 2024, when Hurricane Helene brought unprecedented devastation to North Carolina's western mountains.

Two days before landfall, our Swiftwater team began preparing for deployment. At first, Helene's track was uncertain-models suggested it might hit central or eastern North Carolina. Its dramatic turn westward came as a shock, striking communities in the mountains with catastrophic force. GFD was ready to answer the call. Upon arrival, our team coordinated with Transylvania County Emergency Management and was assigned as one of several search teams tasked with locating victims. These missions involved both rescues and, tragically, recoveries. Using advanced land-search technology, including specialized tracking and mapping systems, our members methodically tracked search progress, documented damage, and identified areas requiring secondary searches. The work was grueling. Many locations were so badly damaged that teams had to travel on foot, carrying gear through nearly impassable terrain. The scale of devastation weighed heavily on everyone involved. To protect physical and mental well-being, team members rotated in and out over the nearly month-long operation. Each returning 12

crew carried the visible toll of the storm's impact, yet their commitment to the mission never wavered. GFD's contribution to Hurricane Helene went far beyond USAR operations. We provided critical support across multiple fronts.