Triangle sends swift water rescue teams to NC coast

Preparations for Hurricane Idalia in the Triangle included training teams for swift water rescue.

North Carolina has more than 30 swift water rescue teams across the state ready to save lives during hurricanes.

Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday said that seven of those teams were staged across eastern and central North Carolina, and 60 high-water vehicles were ready to deploy should they be needed in the aftermath of a storm expected to bring 5 or more inches of rain over about 18 hours.

Since Wake County isn't expecting significant impacts from Idalia, local first responders were deploying to other parts of the state where water rescues may be necessary.

Idalia could have the biggest impact in counties southeast of the Triangle in areas like Fayetteville, Goldsboro and Wilson.

According to the state Department of Public Safety, during Hurricane Matthew swift water teams rescued more than 1,800 people from flooded cars and homes.

In the Triangle, between 1 and 2 inches of rain is expected to fall, not enough to cause major flooding concerns. Even less rain could fall north of the Triangle.

James Coles, deputy chief of emergency services with the Durham Fire Department, said eight team members from Durham will be ready to respond in Bladen County, where flooding is expected to be worse.

Swift water teams from the Cary and Raleigh fire departments were also heading to eastern parts of the state, although multiple teams will remain in the Triangle in case they are needed.