‘Never this bad’: Helene’s impact to be felt for months to come as Milton approaches 

Flooding caused by Hurricane Helene wreaked Havoc on much of the Southeast, resulting in a period of challenging emergency response. IAFF members spent the first few days on duty without a break while the IAFF Go Teams addressed membership issues from damaged property to financial relief. Now some of the same areas will be hit by another Hurricane, Milton.

October 9 • 2024

Fire fighters and other first responders from Florida to North Carolina were prepared for Hurricane Helene almost two weeks ago. They knew there would be wind damage and coastal storm surges. It was more challenging to predict the extreme flooding and widespread devastation that will affect response areas for months to come.  

Helene hit the Tampa Bay area harder than any other hurricane in more than 103 years, according to news reports, with damage likely to be eclipsed by Hurricane Milton, which is taking aim at Florida’s Gulf Coast this week.  

“I have lived here my whole life, but I have never seen it this bad,” Local 1158 President David Sowers of Clearwater, Florida, said. “There was sand piled so high on the roads that they were unpassable, and the water was three or four-feet high in some places, including one of our fire stations.” 
 
Two of Clearwater’s fire stations sit on the beach.  

Standard hurricane preparation protocol called for the apparatus and staff to be relocated to stations inland so that apparatus is accessible immediately after the storm. This time, relocating equipment prevented it from being lost to flood damage as Fire Station 47 took on at least three feet of water. 
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As soon as the storm subsided enough to safely navigate the roads, Local 1158 members were out in vehicles designed to withstand high waters. They also used inflatable boats and jet skis to assist citizens who chose not to evacuate.

Even with the specialized equipment, there were some fires, many caused by lithium batteries in hybrid cars and electronic bikes, and other emergencies that Local 1158 members say they could not get to right away because of the massive amounts of water and debris. 
 
In North Carolina’s inland communities, residual rain and flooding from hurricanes is nothing new, but first responders and residents were not prepared for the extreme amount of rain, flooding, and mudslides brought on by Helene. 
 
Untold numbers of people were trapped because of the high waters and unpassable or washed away roads. Fire fighters across the state stayed on duty for four days or more assisting citizens and responding to other emergencies.  
 
“Our members are trained well for swift water rescues. In the first days of the storm’s aftermath, they worked around the clock to get to people who were trapped by the floods,” Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina President Scott Mullins said. “There is no doubt that they saved thousands of lives.” 

Our members are trained well for swift water rescues. In the first days of the storm’s aftermath, they worked around the clock to get to people who were trapped by the floods. There is no doubt that they saved thousands of lives.

Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina Scott Mullins

While water rescues were underway, fire fighters were also responding to fires and other emergencies. Response was made difficult by washed out roads, limited cell and internet service, and lack of water. 
 
“We found ourselves doing some pretty unexpected things like drafting water out of lakes because there was no other way to get water,” Welcker Taylor, president of Asheville Local 332, said.  
 
While the lack of water was a temporary issue, several roads have been washed away or are now blocked due to mudslides. 
 
“There is no way to know when those roads will be accessible or rebuilt,” Taylor said. “We will be using new routes for the foreseeable future.” 
 
Sowers, Mullins, and Taylor all said they appreciated the IAFF had their backs via Disaster Relief operations, allowing members to focus on emergency response.  

12th District Vice President Walt Dix and IAFF Director of Health and Safety Operational Services Sean DeCrane dispatched four-person Disaster Relief “Go  Teams” comprised of 4th and 12th District members. The teams helped 130 IAFF members with varying degrees of hurricane damage to their homes in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina.  

Meanwhile, the International also delivered $45,000 in immediate financial assistance to members whose homes sustained catastrophic storm damage. Peer support continues to be offered to members in need.  

Dix and Go Team members have shut down Helene operations and are turning their attention to Hurricane Milton. Resources are being pre-positioned in or close to St. Petersburg, Tampa, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, Orlando, Daytona Beach, and surrounding areas. 

Members can access IAFF disaster resources here.