Illinoisans give helping hand in Florence effort

Posted on September 22, 2018
13 members from Illinois Task Force One are in the Carolina’s to help with the Florence damage. (Pixaby)

 

By Dave Dahl

Report from North Carolina – a firefighter / paramedic from Naperville is leading a team of thirteen, responding to Florence.

Chuck Gros of “Illinois Task Force One” took time Thursday morning to talk to reporters on a conference call arranged by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Having responded to Katrina, Gros had an idea of what to expect.

“In certain areas, you are seeing houses completely submerged, and all you see is just a roof,” said Gros. “In other areas, you’re seeing multiple cars submerged. It’s mass devastation. It’s just overwhelming to see how many are affected by this water. It’s mind-blowing, because it destroys so many things.”

Illinois’ deployment is part of a mutual aid response network. His crew is in North Carolina for ten days.

As of Wednesday night the team has made fourteen rescues.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]

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