Oklahoma Rapid Response Team Aids North Carolina Residents In Need Of Help

The Oklahoma Rapid Response Team has been carrying out a variety of tasks in North Carolina performing helicopter and swift water search and rescue missions, and moving supplies like food water and medicine.

The Task Force is made up of eleven members of the OKC Fire Department, two members of the OKC Police Department, two members each from the Moore and Edmond Fire Departments, and one member each from the Norman and Chickasha Fire Departments. 

Also rounding out the group is a member of the OKC IT Department. Task Force members say they were able to help a lot of people despite challenges.

"It rained for probably five or six days," said Josh Pearcy, a helicopter rescue technician on the Task Force. "We were here and then once we got up and flying we faced very severe flooded areas. It's sparsely populated and no cell phone signal, not a lot of access for people to be able to call for help. So, we spent a lot of time in the air searching for people who were signaling, waving flags from balconies, rooftops, and windows." 

The helicopter search and rescue team will start making their way back to Oklahoma Thursday, arriving sometime Friday.

There is still no word on when swift water rescue teams with the Task Force will get to come home.