New York State helping with Helene recovery efforts

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)–New York is helping southern states that have been hit by Helene, especially North Carolina.

On Monday, 30 members of New York State's Incident Management Team left for Asheville, North Carolina to help after Helene caused severe flooding and storm damage.

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"They'll help to bring together in a way that makes sense, any of the things that are going on— whether that's search and rescue, or water missions, food missions, bridge inspections, all that. They're there to basically organize that for the community. They will provide relief for the local responders who are there or being in the outside resources if they're short of that type of resource in the area," explained Matt Franklin, Director of the Office of Emergency Management.

This comes after New York State already deployed 16 swift water rescue personnel and two canines to North Carolina last Wednesday.

"That team has been trained, very well trained, at our facility in Oriskany, and they're prepared to handle anything that comes their way when water is not where it's normally supposed to be," explained Franklin.

The New York Army National Guard deployed some of its members as well.

"Our CH-47 Unit out of Rochester deployed 16 service members yesterday," said Lieutenant Colonel Jean Marie Kratzer, New York Army National Guard Public Affairs Officer.

They also sent down three of their Chinook Helicopters.

"Our main mission there to move cargo and help administer and move people as needed," said Kratzer.

Both the New York National Guard and the state said their teams are well prepared and have been sent on missions to help other states in years past.