APEX -- NCCERT, the North Carolina Canine Emergency Response Team, has just returned from two deployments to Western North Carolina for hurricanes Frances and Ivan. NCCERT and Apex Fire Department sent a total of 13 members to the affected areas for swiftwater rescue services, as part of North Carolina Task Force 4.

During Frances, NCTF-4 was assigned to the Mitchell County Area, where multiple swiftwater rescues were performed, as well as evacuations. Madison County was our assignment for Hurricane Ivan. We arrived to the scene just on time and were hosted by the Walnut Community Volunteer Fire Department. 8-10 inches of rain fell in less than 2 days. The devistation and destruction was tremendous, but the citizens of Mitchell and Madison counties are cleaning up, and getting on with their lives even though a good many of them have lost their homes.

Pictures of the area will be available in the NCCERT photo album in the near future so keep checking back.