NEWS RELEASE
MICHIGAN STATE POLICE
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The Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division (MSP/EMHSD) has deployed Michigan Task Force 1’s (MI-TF1) Type I Swiftwater Team through the Michigan Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MI-MABAS) to help with potential water search and rescue operations in North Carolina caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The deployment is a response to a request made by North Carolina for out-of-state support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC).
Tropical storm and flood warnings are in effect across the state of North Carolina where more than a half a foot of rain fell prior to Hurricane Helene slamming into Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm. Flash floods, landslides, and heavy winds are expected to intensify in North Carolina as Tropical Storm Helene moves inland.
The 19-member MI-TF1 team deployed September 26 for a nine-day mission. The team is comprised of responders from 10 local fire departments from across Michigan and will join rescuers from North Carolina and several other states.
“We anticipate dangerous conditions but stand ready to assist when other states are in need of help,” said Capt. Kevin Sweeney, deputy state director of Emergency Management and commander of the MSP/EMHSD. “We are proud of Michigan Task Force 1 and the reputation it has built as a live-saving resource. The state of North Carolina made a direct request for this specific team. We wish them a safe and successful mission.”
“Our swiftwater rescue team has trained extensively for scenarios like these, and we are ready to assist with water rescues and other critical missions during and after Tropical Storm Helene,” said MI-TF1 Program Manager, Dave McIntyre. “With the support from our families, local fire departments, MSP/EMHSD, and Gov. (Gretchen) Whitmer, we are proud to deploy to help protect communities in North Carolina.”
MI-TF1 will conduct missions including water rescues and flood response operations to reports of trapped residents and motorists. It also has the capability to rescue small animals and pets. The team is expected to be on the ground in North Carolina through Oct. 4.
This is the fourth time in just more than a year that Michigan has deployed MI-TF1 through EMAC requests. The team most recently responded to South Carolina to assist in the wake of Tropical Storm Debby (August 2024), it also conducted life-saving rescues during historic flooding in Texas (May 2024) and Vermont (July 2023.)
Through EMAC, a disaster-impacted state can request and receive assistance from other member states quickly and efficiently. All costs associated with deploying resources under EMAC are paid for by the requesting state. Members of EMAC include all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.
For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit www.michigan.gov/miready or follow MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS.
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