In all of the rescue calls, there were no lives lost and no reports of serious injuries.
“We responded to three different locations,” said Marc Collier, commander of Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad.
The rescue squad, using boats in all but one of the calls, began its efforts by removing eight people from Meadowbrook Mobile Home Park with assistance from the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department.
Then the squad responded to the Highway 125 area on the outskirts of Halifax to a call of a stranded motorist as roads throughout the county were becoming impassable. “They were literally grasping on top of the vehicle,” Collier said of the victim.
The squad, which is certified in swiftwater rescue, deployed a team in boats to rescue the person.
At Highway 903 outside Scotland Neck, where the highway collapsed, squad members responded to a call where a power company pickup went into the water. Two bucket trucks had safely passed before the highway crumbled. “The road immediately washed out. They were stranded in the middle of the creek standing on the roof.”
While the squad was unable to launch a boat, members of the team gave the stranded power company employees life vests, tied a line to a tree and swam out to them.
For Collier, the efforts were all part of the training the squad and the other responding agencies receive. “You know all the training comes in handy. It was probably the worst flooding I’ve seen in awhile.”
Throughout the ordeals, Roanoke Valley received assistance from Roanoke Rapids, Scotland Neck and Enfield. “It tells you their dedication,” Collier said. “I can’t say enough about them. To be in the dangerous situations they were in, I can’t say enough for their dedication. The ones pulled out were grateful. Several couldn’t swim.”
Collier said the majority of fatalities in areas struck hard by Matthew were from vehicles being pushed off the roadways.”
In Enfield, police Chief Tyree Davis said the first call received was on South Dennis Street where a person was standing on top of their vehicle. “The Enfield Fire Department came out and brought their boat. The crews secured the boat with rope and myself and EMS met them out in the water.”
The victim declined medical treatment and was taken to a residence in town. “I think it’s a time when their experience and training comes to the forefront,” Davis said.
Throughout the storm, Enfield fire Chief Ronnie Locke said his department had five or six water rescues by boat and then helped people get out of an apartment. “One of the cars washed right off the road and into the woods. They were hanging on. Another vehicle stalled and they were hanging on to trees.”
There were some areas Enfield couldn’t get to and Halifax and Darlington responded. Locke estimated the number of rescues throughout the county to be as high as 22.
“Fire service, law enforcement and EMS, we have a lot of great relationships,” said Halifax Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Johnson. “They’re always willing to help and respond to everything they can.”
On Justice Branch Road, Johnson said Halifax responded to a vehicle washed out with three people on the roof. “We removed them from harm and found another on one of the bridges. We got her out of the vehicle.”
Johnson said Halifax rescued six people and assisted Darlington in rescuing three more.
Halifax County Sheriff Wes Tripp said he was proud of all the agencies throughout the county. “Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad has been part of the landscape for years and provides a very valuable service to the county.”
Tripp said agencies like Roanoke Valley and the fire departments, “Says how precious volunteers are. These volunteer firefighters get called at all hours of the night and provide a valuable service. I’ve always had respect for the firefighters. When they are called they don’t know what they are getting into. It’s very dangerous and I respect what they do.”