SWANNANOA, North Carolina - It’s now been nine days since members of the Calcutta Fire Department left their homes in Columbiana County to help victims of Hurricane Helene.

After first going to Florida, the Calcutta Vol Fire Search and Rescue/ Swift Water Rescue team has spent the past five days in storm-ravaged Buncombe County, North Carolina, where 57 storm-related fatalities were reported as of Wednesday.

Working alongside other Columbiana County teams from Liverpool Township and Glenmoor, they were joined by the department’s K-9, Solace, who has been instrumental in the local search and rescue operations.

 

Food, water, and other goods, some of it collected by people here in the Valley and dropped off at the Calcutta Fire Station, are being distributed to Helene’s victims in hard-hit Swannanoa, North Carolina.

Back at home, hurricane relief collections continue from 4 until 8 p.m. at the Calcutta Fire Department, 15445 Pugh Rd, Calcutta, OH.

Donors are being asked to check the food dates to ensure it hasn’t expired.  Firefighters say they also need boxes to pack up the goods and could use help from any volunteers.

The department has expressed its gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support and donations, which they say have been crucial to their efforts.