Rescue team funded by $200,000 in grants for equipment and lifesaving training

 
*** Photos on DEMA’s Flickr Page at: Delaware Swift Water Rescue Team Photos
 
SMYRNA, Del. – The Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) and the Delaware State Fire School deployed a Swift Water Rescue Team (SWRT) to North Carolina on Saturday under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) to support response and recovery efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene late last week. The powerful Category 4 storm made landfall on September 26 in Florida’s Big Bend region and caused widespread destruction in multiple states, killing more than 100 people in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. The hurricane also cut off power to millions with many families stranded by floodwaters. More than 1,000 people are believed missing. Among the hardest-hit regions are areas of North Carolina and South Carolina, where hundreds of roads are closed and inaccessible.

“Delaware knows that water is one of our biggest risks to life and infrastructure,” said A.J. Schall, Director of the Delaware Emergency Management Agency. “Ensuring we have trained and equipment personnel to respond to several different water rescue situations is key to our preparedness, and now we are able to assist North Carolina.”

DEMA provided almost $200,000 in grants to the Wilmington Fire Department, Kent County Special Operations Team, and New Castle County Special Operations Team for new swift water rescue boats and specialized skills training for first responders. A trailer package for Sussex County is in process of being ordered. The project is the culmination of a three-year effort to strengthen Delaware’s statewide water rescue capabilities as well as provide support to out-of-state incidents.

According to the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security, swift water is powerful, relentless water moving down an incline. Rapids, streams, and waterfalls are examples of swift water that can occur either naturally or driven by floodwaters. Selecting the right boat for an incident is based on severity of the water, the likelihood of underwater obstructions, and the method used to transport the boat to the launch area. Inflatable rescue boats are essential equipment in waterborne search and rescue (SAR) operations, and are used to transport SAR teams, equipment, and victims. SAR operations need boats that provide the safest transportation in an extreme environment.

The flooding in the City of Wilmington from Hurricane Ida in September 2021 highlighted the need for water rescue boat packages that included an aluminum flat bottom boat, inflatable boats, and metal trailers capable of carrying two watercrafts securely. Based on a careful needs assessment, state officials selected Alabama-based ONE Boat Rescue Boats, a leading provider of multi-use, interoperable boats for the first responder community.

“The Delaware State Fire School worked closely with DEMA to coordinate the training and make sure the equipment we purchased for our training programs matched the equipment the teams would receive,” said Tucker Dempsey, Director of the Delaware State Fire School.

Wilmington Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team – $49,390

• OB430R – 14-foot Inflatable Boat (Capacity: 8 Adults)
• OB470R – 15.5-foot Inflatable Boat (Capacity: 10 Adults)
• 500 – Two-Tiered Double Transport Trailer

Kent County Swift Water Rescue Team – $44,177

• OB430R – 14-foot Inflatable Boat (Capacity: 8 Adults)
• OB470R – 15.5-foot Inflatable Boat (Capacity: 10 Adults)
• 500 – Two-Tiered Double Transport Trailer

New Castle County Swift Water Rescue Team – $57,763

• 1660CB – 16-foot Aluminum Flat Bottom Boat (Capacity: 6 Adults +)
• OB470R – 15.5-foot Inflatable Boat (Capacity: 10 Adults)
• 500 Two-Tiered Double Transport Trailer

In addition to acquiring new swift water rescue boats and trailers, it was also important to provide the necessary training to prepare first responders to effectively utilize the equipment in critical, lifesaving situations. DEMA provided funding for training certified by the National Fire Protection Association that included special skills development and realistic drills on specific tasks for water-based emergencies: Swift Water Rescue Technician, Flood Rescue Boat Operator, Inland Rescue Swimmer, and Rescue From Vehicles in Floodwater.
 
Delaware Swift Water Rescue Training and Exercise Programs* – $46,000
* Training certified by the National Fire Protection Association

New Castle County Team

• September 2024 – Swift Water Rescue Technician – 18 personnel

Kent County Team

• Inland Rescue Swimmer – 19 personnel
• Rescue Boat Operator – 10 personnel
• Swift Water Rescue Technician – 26 personnel
• Rescue From Vehicles in Floodwater (Rescue Tech is prerequisite) – 10 personnel
• Ice Rescue Technician – 5 personnel

Smyrna (independent from Kent Co. Team

• Swift Water Rescue Technician – 5 personnel
• Rescue From Vehicles in Floodwater (Rescue Tech is pre-req) – 6 personnel
• Flood Rescue Boat Operator – 12 personnel

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