VBFD Swiftwater Rescue Team helps in SW Va. rescues

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — The Virginia Beach Fire Department’s Swiftwater Rescue Team VA-2 helped rescue two people, a dog and helped residents to shelter in place in southwestern Virginia amid flooding and damages to that region Friday.

The team had been assigned five missions throughout the day in Carroll County, Fries and in Galax.

In addition to the rescues, they also helped local firefighters, searched several homes around the area and helped with multiple tree removals for impassable roads.

The Swiftwater Rescue Team is expected to be active Saturday in that region.

Virginia Beach EMS will also be deploying with two ambulances that include career medics and four crews — including one volunteer crew — to southwestern Virginia to help in the aftermath of Friday’s storms for what is expected to be an extended deployment. They will leave from Virginia Beach Rescue Station 14 Friday night.

They’re deploying as part of a statewide mutual aid request to all Virginia localities from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management seeking “urgent” help for Washington County due to devastating effects from the remnants of what was Hurricane Helene. They will provide advanced life support and other help as needed for emergency responses to townships within Washington County.

Virginia Beach Emergency Management Director David Topczynski got in touch with Virginia Beach EMS chief Jason Stroud to let him know of the request, and Stroud “immediately authorized a mutual aid response.”

Virginia Beach EMS will also be deploying with two ambulances that include career medics and four crews — including one volunteer crew — to southwestern Virginia to help in the aftermath of Friday’s storms for what is expected to be an extended deployment. (Photos – VB EMS)

“Our hearts go out to the men and women who are fighting the flooding and damage from Hurricane Helene,” Stroud said in a statement. “EMS is a big family, and we are glad that we can provide mutual aid assistance to Washington County in their time of need.”

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