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Wythe County fire crews detail hurricane response, urge investment in training and equipment
Summary
Chief Whitlow told the Board of Supervisors that his department handled dozens of storm-related calls, multiple rescues and prolonged staffing during Hurricane Helene and said donations are being redirected to rebuild equipment and training capacity.
Chief Whitlow told the Wythe County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 26 that the department logged about 24 official dispatches during Hurricane Helene and conducted multiple rescues and evacuations, supported by outside teams including the Chesterfield Swiftwater Rescue Team. He said crews removed at least 15 downed trees, addressed two power lines in the roadway, and helped two people who were stranded in water. "We had 15 trees down during that time," he said, adding that the number of actual calls was likely higher than official dispatch records.
Whitlow outlined manpower and equipment use during the event: he estimated approximately 1,486 response hours during the storm and 1,381 staffing hours after the initial response, plus generator use,…
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