Coordinated Emergency Response Chatham County Fire Department: Rescues, Welfare Checks, and Preparedness Efforts

On Wednesday morning, Chatham County Fire Department began preparing personnel and equipment to respond to flooded areas from Tropical Storm Debby and the Ogeechee River. This preparation involved checking water rescue assets, ensuring that the necessary personnel were in place, and increasing staff to handle the anticipated number of calls. In total, they likely rescued over 30 people. However, beyond the rescues, which were crucial, the team also conducted numerous welfare checks, going from house to house, asking residents about their well-being, whether they planned to stay, and gathering important information.

Throughout the event, the team frequently called on the CCPD Marine Patrol and worked with Port Wentworth, which brought in an MRAP (a special armored vehicle). Pooler Fire also assisted in conducting rescues. The team remains on standby, ready to respond to any further needs, whether it is rescuing more individuals, performing wellness checks, or providing assistance to other agencies. Additionally, they plan to use this experience as a learning opportunity to improve their response in future events.