Excerpts from the DailyHerald.com: A team of 15 firefighters from the Illinois Urban Search and Rescue Team was deployed to North Carolina following Hurricane Florence, which made landfall on September 14. A federal disaster was declared that same day, as the storm lingered over the state for several days, causing widespread flooding and power outages. Tens of thousands of residents were affected, with entire towns submerged under water. Emergency responders from across the country rushed in to assist. Illinois Task Force 1 is composed of firefighters from various departments participating in a statewide disaster response initiative. Among those sent to North Carolina were ten firefighters from suburban areas including Wauconda, Wheeling, Arlington Heights, Downers Grove, Morton Grove, Alsip, Matteson, Naperville, and Rolling Meadows. Firefighters from Chicago and Bettendorf, Iowa, also joined the mission. The team left the MABAS headquarters in Wheeling on September 14, traveling in a convoy carrying boats, generators, and essential equipment. They arrived the next afternoon at an emergency operations center in Raleigh and were soon dispatched to the small town of Whiteville. However, they were later redeployed to Riegelwood, a coastal community near the Cape Fear River, which had overflowed due to the hurricane's heavy rains. Upon arrival, the local Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire Rescue station was operating on a generator and was filled with displaced residents, including families of local firefighters. A National Guard unit and other emergency personnel had also set up nearby. The Illinois team immediately began rescuing stranded individuals, transporting them to the fire station where they could be evacuated by the National Guard. They also provided food, water, and medical assistance, and helped cover damaged roofs with tarps. Using a military surplus truck equipped with an inflatable motorboat, the team navigated through flooded streets. In some cases, when the water became too deep, they launched the boat. Some homes remained dry but were surrounded by floodwaters, while others were completely submerged up to their rooftops. Local firefighters accompanied the team, guiding them through the area and helping identify potential hazards like wildlife. The work was exhausting, with 15-hour shifts being common, and emergency calls coming in even during the night. One particularly challenging rescue involved an elderly couple trapped in a car that had been swept off the road. Firefighters broke the window and safely pulled the woman out. The Illinois task force returned home on September 26, having made a significant impact in one of the hardest-hit regions of North Carolina. Ev And Ess Fuse,Electrical Fuse,High Voltage Fuse,Fuse Components Beiamp New Energy Co., Ltd. , https://www.beiamp.net