Western North Carolina - Working together, the Charlotte Fire Department's Swiftwater Rescue Team and the N.C. National Guard rescued 9 people Wednesday near Morganton in Burke County.  Charlotte B/C Tim Rogers and Capt Jeff Bright were one of two helo rescue mission teams that were kept busy responding to calls for service in parts of western North Carolina on Wednesday.

The NC Army National Guard Aviation wing from Salisbury, NC, provided mission support which allowed firefighters to safely rescue seven (7) stranded residents from their isolated home just north west of Morganton, NC. The seven people along with two first responders who were trapped by high water were taken to a safe area and than transported to a local shelter.

Reports into the western branch EOC of the NC office of EM state that over 200 residents have been safely evacuated by the many SRT teams that were deployed in advance of Hurricane Frances.

There were numerous requests for Swiftwater Rescue Teams (SRT) for evacuation and rescues Tuesday night in Jackson, Avery, Haywood, Caldwell, Henderson and Mitchell Counties. Teams responding were from the Charlotte Fire Department's Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), Shelby Fire Department, Gaston SRT, and Thomasville USAR. Additional SRT units have reporting for duty Wednesday at the Hickory National Guard Armory were Pitt County Sheriff's SRT, Rocky Mount Fire Department SRT, Lumberton Rescue USAR Team, the Rapid Extrication Delivery Service from Garner, NC Task Force One from Troutman Rescue and the Apex Fire Department, and the Orange County Technical Rescue Team.