Northern Virginia rescue crews help dozens in Southwest Virginia after Helene

DAMASCUS, Va. ( DC News Now ) — Water rescue teams from a few Northern Virginia fire departments are returning home after spending days performing heroic rescue efforts in Southwest Virginia.

Crews from several departments made the long trip to the hardest-hit parts of the commonwealth after Helene.

While many departments started in different locations, a few ended up in Damascus, Va., a small town near the Tennessee border that was ravaged by the storm.

According to Prince William County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief Kurt Heindrichs, the crew performed at least 24 rescues — some with help from other agencies.

“We’re not successful alone,” said Arlington County Fire Department Batallion Chief Justin Tirelli. “This is always a team.”

Arlington County and Stafford County also sent teams and spoke with DC News Now about their efforts down south.

“Resiliency and adaptability,” said Captain Jon Hensen from Stafford County. “Being able to recognize that there are issues and not just recognize the problem but… my team had solutions.”

In addition to the rescues, the teams also flagged flooded areas to help the funding process. In all, they were in Damascus for about two days.

“The devastation was catastrophic down there,” Heindrichs said. “When you talk to our folks, bridges and roads flooded out, businesses flooded. Communication knocked out. Wholesale destruction.”

Tirelli said the area flooded because it was between two streams that “became raging rivers and they converged on the town, basically inundating it instantly.”

While all three remarked about the damage, Hensen, who was a member of the team deployed, also said he was struck by the perseverance and welcoming nature of the people in the area.

“That side of people kind of restores your faith in humanity, you know, how people just rally around each other in times of hardship,” he said.

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