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Bradley County Fire and Rescue aiding South Carolina flood response

A driver takes his truck through a flooded street in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 3, 2015. A driver takes his truck through a flooded street in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 3, 2015.

By Associated Press October 4, 2015 1 min read

Historic South Carolina floods: Heavy rain, hundreds rescued

Bradley Fire and Rescue is among a dozen Tennessee first responder groups heading to South Carolina to help with catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Joaquin.

Other groups include the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, state Fire Marshal’s Office, and another 14 state and local agencies. Tennessee is sending nine swift-water rescue teams with 83 personnel and more than 20 boats and water craft. This is Tennessee’s largest support effort to another state in an emergency since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, according to a TEMA news release.

“Tennessee has some of the best-trained, most-capable swift water rescue teams in the Southeast,” said TEMA Deputy Commissioner David Purkey. “I’m thankful we have such dedicated professionals willing to help others in their time of greatest need.”

State and local agencies deploying personnel and equipment to South Carolina include:

* Ashland City Fire Department

* Bradley County Fire and Rescue

* Brentwood Fire Department

* Dickson Fire Department

* Franklin Fire Department

* Knoxville Volunteer Emergency Response Squad

* Knoxville Fire Department

* City of Lavergne

* Metro Nashville Fire Department

* Montgomery County Emergency Medical Service

* Rutherford County

* Rutherford County Emergency Management Agency Special Operations Response Team

* Williamson County Sheriff’s Office

* Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency

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