As Florida braces for impact, Alabama National Guard brings relief to the Carolinas

MONTGOMERY, Ala. ( WIAT ) — Members of the Alabama National Guard are reeling from the sights of Hurricane Helene’s destruction.

Tech Sergeant Jessie Thomas with the Fatality Search and Recovery Team says his team arrived in Hickory, NC on Oct. 1. What they’ve experienced so far has been nothing short of devastating.

“The way the water was flowing through this town, there’s a lot of piles of debris and rubble,” TSgt. Thomas saud. “And we’re currently digging through these piles with local contractors to search for decedents.”

In Chimney Rock and Lake Lure, NC, TSgt. Thomas described meeting a local who said her fifteen-year-old son was missing.

“She later on reached out to us and let us know that her son was found safe and alive,” he recalled. “It was heartbreaking at first, but became a real heartwarming story.”

TSgt. Thomas said houses are gone, trees are down and even parts of the road are destroyed in these areas. When asked about federal assistance, he said they’ve worked primarily with local authorities like state troopers, sheriff’s offices and fire departments.

“We have worked real close with them … The local authorities [here] have been communicating and working pretty great together,” TSgt. Thomas said.

Thomas said we can help by keeping their team in our thoughts and prayers. He said this support is great until they can complete their mission and come home.

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