BY DAN GITRO

This week first responders all over Iredell County prepared for the remnants of Hurricane Ian to hit Iredell County. The forecast from local meteorologists and the National Weather Service painted a picture of high winds in excess of 40 mph and heavy rain in excess of 4 inches.

Living in an area that typically does not receive high winds nor massive amounts of rain in a single day, local first responders were on heightened alert for what could happen during the storm.

Preparation started days before the storm hit. Fire departments were getting chainsaws ready for downed trees, rescue squads were preparing boats and rescue gear and law enforcement, in particular the Sheriff’s Office, was preparing for water rescues with their high water vehicles.

Mooresville Fire-Rescue prepared for swiftwater rescues and had teams on standby throughout the day. Fortunately, none of the preparations were needed with the exception of the chainsaws for multiple trees down throughout the county on Friday.

Fire departments and rescue squads staffed up fire houses throughout the day and night on Friday. No specific area got hit harder with this storm than another. From north to south and east to west, all departments ran calls of trees down and power lines down. There were a few traffic accidents early in the morning and South Iredell ran into Rowan County for a working structure fire.

After Statesville saw massive flooding a few years ago along with flooding in Alexander County that killed many at a campground, responders in this county were not going to take any chances. We have some of the most dedicated first responders around and the Firewire would like to thank all responders for taking time away from their families and their full-time careers to staff firehouses and rescue squads to protect the citizens of Iredell County.

I am glad the weather was not as severe as it could have been and that everybody is safe and going about their weekend.

Dan Gitro is the founder of Iredell Firewire.