The crews from Eastern North Carolina are heading to help others as Hurricane Helene heads toward the United States. “They’re currently going to a station in Rockingham, and then from there, they’ll be given specific orders out for wherever they’re needed,” said Captain Jerome.

As Hurricane Helene heads towards Florida, the American Red Cross is working closely with partners and officials across Florida and Georgia to finalize response plans and urge people to make their preparations now.

The National Weather Service (Greenville-Spartanburg) believes Hurricane Helene will bring historic flooding to Asheville on Friday. Officials urged extreme caution, stating the storm would be “one of the most significant weather events to happen in the western portions of the area in the modern era.

Hurricane Helene is getting stronger as it approaches Florida, meaning expected higher impacts inland into South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina.

In Buncombe County, a local state of emergency was declared Wednesday to help the cities of Asheville, Biltmore Forest, Weaverville, the Woodfin, Black Mountain and Montreat.

Hurricane Helene is expected to impact Asheville the afternoon of Sept. 26, but a rain system has already caused closures across the region.