In response to an urgent request for mutual aid from North Carolina, the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications is deploying four 9-1-1 dispatchers to support emergency communication centers in North Carolina most impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Dispatchers deployed this morning, Oct. 7, with teams from Loudoun County, Prince William County, Charlottesville and the National Capital Region Incident Management Team, which is also deploying to support the mission. A total of 17 personnel are responding.
The Virginia team, mobilized with the assistance of local Virginia 9-1-1 leaders, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the Fairfax County Department of Emergency Management and Security, will be deployed for 11 days.
The mission will focus on providing emergency communications assistance with call-taking and dispatching in 9-1-1 centers, ensuring continuity of emergency response capabilities. The deployment will provide relief for North Carolina dispatchers who have been working around the clock so they can focus on family, their homes and relief efforts.
This is the first time in history that the Fairfax County Department of Public Safety Communications will deploy outside the Commonwealth of Virginia to assist 9-1-1 centers in need. Additional Fairfax County dispatchers are on standby in the event future deployments are needed.
Virginia Task Force 1
On Sept. 25, our Virginia Task Force 1 team was activated by FEMA to assist with hurricane recovery efforts in Florida. They are now continuing their operations in North Carolina.
VA-TF1 members continued search and rescue efforts by both air and ground yesterday in areas requested by local emergency operations officials. By integrating with local first responders, our search and rescue efforts are more effective. @ffxfirerescue @fema pic.twitter.com/irLJMpIuH2
— VA-TF1 / USA-1 - Urban Search and Rescue (@VATF1) October 3, 2024
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