Note: Originally published on Wednesday, updated on Thursday to reflect that workers were dispatched to Florida on Thursday.
The Fayetteville Public Works Commission and the Cumberland County government have sent help to North Carolina mountains and to Florida and South Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
Their missions include rebuilding power lines, repairing a water system, and assisting with social services, emergency management and public information, according to spokespeople for the PWC and the county, and other officials.
“Additional County departments are also planning to send employees to provide assistance and are awaiting assignments,” a Cumberland County news release says.
More details:
- On Wednesday morning, the PWC sent two five-person water construction crews plus a manager to Black Mountain, a town near Asheville, to help restore water service.
- On Thursday, the PWC sent a crew of six electrical linemen to Orlando, Florida, to assist with Hurricane Milton recovery. Milton hit Florida on Wednesday.
- Previously, the PWC sent 10 line workers to Florida to help restore electrical service, and while they were on their way back, they helped restore power in South Carolina. They got home over the weekend.
- Cumberland County sent four people to Avery, Yancey and Buncombe counties. They are “working alongside local organizations and volunteers to assist with recovery efforts,” the news release says. Two have returned, and more are going to be sent, county spokeswoman Diane B. Rice said.
One of the workers who went to the mountains was Cumberland County Emergency Management Coordinator Garry Crumpler, County Manager Clarence Grier told the county commissioners at their Monday meeting.
Rice said the other three are a public information officer and two people from the Department of Social Services.
Previously, 18 first responders from the Fayetteville Police Department, Fayetteville Fire Department and Cape Fear Valley EMS went to Brevard County for search-and-rescue work. And the Army is sending soldiers from Fort Liberty.
Meanwhile, Phil Harris of the Sandhills Chapter of the American Red Cross said on Facebook he went to the mountains to assist. “I’ve been amazed at the coordination and all the agencies involved,” Harris said. “I got lost and ran into a young policeman from Hope Mills. He has been sleeping on a cot for over a week. Nice kid! Gave me directions.”
Senior reporter Paul Woolverton can be reached at 910-261-4710 and pwoolverton@cityviewnc.com.
This story was made possible by donations from readers like you to the CityView News Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to an informed democracy in Fayetteville and Cumberland County.
