First responders from Summit County head south to help with Tropical Storm Debby effort

Summit County's Type I Swiftwater Rescue Team was deployed to North Carolina Wednesday to assist with Tropical Storm Debby response and rescue efforts.

The team, comprised of 14 members from the Akron, Cuyahoga Falls, Green and Twinsburg fire departments, will work with local first responders to conduct search, rescue and recovery operations in affected areas.

The tropical storm, which has already drenched Georgia and South Carolina, is expected to bring significant flooding and damage to North Carolina.

"Summit County is fortunate to have specialized emergency response teams available to support our fellow Americans when they are in need," said County Executive Ilene Shapiro in a written statement.

The county's Type I Swiftwater Team is the highest FEMA-type team, equipped to handle the most challenging water rescue situations.

The Summit County Emergency Management Agency works closely with the Ohio EMA to coordinate the deployment of this team, according to a news release. The Ohio EMA is a liaison, negotiating with other states for additional resources and support when necessary.

This coordination is part of a larger Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) framework, which is a mutual aid agreement among states that enables them to share resources and personnel during disasters.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: First responders from Summit County head south to help with Tropical Storm Debby effort