In anticipation of Tropical Storm Debby, Alabama has dispatched an 18-person FEMA Type 1 Swift Water/Flood Search and Rescue Team to South Carolina.
The deployment, initiated Monday evening, is part of the National Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which supports search and rescue operations.
The EMAC facilitates the provision of personnel, equipment, and supplies across states during governor-declared emergencies or disasters.
The unit sent from the Alabama Mutual Aid System comprises resources and personnel from Arab Fire, Guntersville Fire, Fort Payne Fire, Madison Fire, Cullman Fire, Decatur Fire, and the Marshall County EMA.
The team arrived in South Carolina at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday, participated in a briefing, and was then deployed to Dorchester County, near Charleston. There, they will establish a base camp.
Blake Farmer, Marshall County EMA director, confirmed the team’s self-sufficiency for up to 72 hours, enabling them to effectively conduct search and rescue operations as needed.