Norwalk Sending Firefighter, Equipment to North Carolina: Rilling

Information from the City of Norwalk:

NORWALK, CT — Today, Thursday, October 3rd, Mayor Harry Rilling announced that he is deploying emergency equipment and a Norwalk Firefighter to Hickory, North Carolina, to assist in the State of Connecticut's response and recovery efforts to Hurricane Helene. This announcement follows Governor Ned Lamont's decision to deploy an urban search and rescue team to help with the Hurricane relief efforts.

Norwalk Firefighter Peter Chila will join a group of seven other personnel from Stratford Fire
Department, Westport Fire Department and Westport Police Department on a mission to set up
communications where local radios and cell phones have been knocked out from Hurricane Helene.

They will bring the Fairfield County Hazmat Command & Communications Unit, a regional asset that is stationed in Westport, known as "Field Comm-1" in an effort to reestablish communications between emergency responders and local government. The City of Norwalk is also deploying a Norwalk Fire Department utility truck and ATV to help navigate roads that have been severely compromised from the damage. This group of firefighters and police officers will deploy tomorrow, Friday, October 4th, and return on October 14th.

"Hurricane Helene has caused unimaginable devastation across the South, including to those living in Hickory, North Carolina, where communications have been compromised between emergency rescue crews, residents and their local government," said Mayor Rilling. "The City of Norwalk stands with the people of Hickory, North Carolina and everyone impacted by Helene and hopes that our efforts to help reestablish communications in this area can make a difference in people's lives. I want to thank members of Norwalk's bravest for dedicating their time to help the people of North Carolina during this horrific time. I also want to thank Governor Lamont for swiftly approving a search and rescue team of state and local volunteers across Connecticut."

The City of Norwalk will be reimbursed for these efforts through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The deployments are occurring under the authorization of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a nationwide system for affected states to request lifesaving resources when the need arises. EMAC is implemented by the Connecticut Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security on behalf of Governor Lamont.