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Task Force 10 reflects on rescue efforts in western North Carolina

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Task Force 10 reflects on rescue efforts in western North Carolina


GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A team of eastern Carolina first responders are reflecting on their humbling experience in the western part of the state, as homes and lives were forever transformed by Tropical Storm Helene.

North Carolina knows all too well the impacts of natural disasters. Teams like NC Task Force 10, which is made up of first responders from Greenville and New Bern’s Fire/Rescue departments, also know distance doesn’t matter when it comes to helping fellow North Carolinians out.

After thirteen days of extensive search and rescue efforts were made on land, on mountains and through coursing waters, the 20 members of NC Task Force 10 made it home on October 8, changed and humbled by the experience.

“When you get a chance to slow down and relax and understand what people have lost, that does start taking a toll on you,” said Capt. Brad Johnston.

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NC Task Force 10 team members rescuing an American flag from Helene’s devastation.(Greenville Fire/Rescue)

The team helped with emergency operations and life-saving missions in Polk, Rutherford and McDowell counties.

Capt. Brad Johnston from Greenville Fire and Rescue looked back on his team’s work, saying one challenge they encountered was western North Carolina’s terrain.

“We’re very familiar with a lot of flood water in eastern North Carolina, but we weren’t very familiar with mudslides,” said Johnston. “That’s what we encountered at the beginning of navigating through mudslides and then navigating on mountain roads.”

The USAR team working in McDowell County assisting in search efforts on Oct. 3.
The USAR team working in McDowell County assisting in search efforts on Oct. 3.(Greenville Fire/Rescue)

The task force teamed up with several fire and rescue departments from North Carolina and beyond to rescue, evacuate and search for people trapped by the storm’s devastation including some that helped in eastern North Carolina when Florence hit in 2018.

“Florence hit New Bern years ago, and for us, we had so many outside units come help us out,” said Capt. Stephen Jasset. “So for us to go to the western part of the state to help them out it was kind of rewarding for the rescuers to be able to give that back.”

A full circle moment of help repaid, as the mission to aid others continues in western North Carolina.

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The task force said they were able to assist four people, evacuate eleven and rescue four individuals. They also were called to more than 30 shelter-in-place missions to make sure people who stayed in their homes were safe.

According to Governor Roy Cooper’s office, more than 1,600 responders from 38 state and local agencies conducted missions in the western part of the state in the wake of Helene’s devastation.



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North Carolina

Verizon clears $10M in debt for North Carolina residents impacted by Hurricane Helene

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Verizon clears M in debt for North Carolina residents impacted by Hurricane Helene


Verizon is teaming up with ForgiveCo to clear $10 million in consumer debt for more than 6,500 North Carolinians impacted by Hurricane Helene.

The communications company said the debt relief campaign is aimed at assisting with the ongoing recovery following the September 2024 storm.

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ForgiveCo’s “random acts of kindness” purchased the debts in the form of medical, financial and other debts of necessity in the affected areas without any applications required and notified the lucky recipients through surprise letters, emails and text messages.

HURRICANE HELENE DEVASTATION COULD COST UP TO $34B, MOODY’S SAYS

ForgiveCo CEO Craig Antico and his son, Erik.  (ForgiveCo)

 “Unpayable debt is a heavy burden that causes hardship for countless hardworking Americans,” said Craig Antico, ForgiveCo Founder and CEO.Often triggered by sudden medical events or accidents, the impact of natural disasters can further destabilize families and limit opportunities for generations. Through this effort, Verizon will bring transformative change to the lives of North Carolinians in crisis, leaving a lasting mark on future generations.”

A news conference at Verizon’s South Asheville store announced that the debt had been forgiven and that no other action would be required by the recipients.

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Workers, community members, and business owners clean up debris in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene in Marshall, North Carolina on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024.  (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images / Getty Images)

The random act of kindness was in addition to Verizon’s initial $400,000 donation to United Way of North Carolina following the storm.

 “Verizon believes in the power of connection, not only through our technology but through the bonds we build with the communities we serve,” said Leigh Anne Lanier, president of Verizon’s Atlantic South Market. “To the 6,500 individuals impacted by this initiative and the broader Western North Carolina community, we are with you. We will always stand by you, not just as a business, but as a partner and a neighbor.”

NORTH CAROLINA LAWMAKER WARNS HURRICANE HELENE RECOVERY COULD TAKE ‘YEARS’

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In this photo illustration Verizon Wireless logo seen displayed on a smartphone and in the background. (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) (Photo Illustration by Igor Golovniov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Basketball Hall of Fame coach and Asheville native, Roy Williams, signed on to deliver the news to the impacted families.

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“Verizon’s random acts of kindness will lift up thousands of North Carolinians that were left vulnerable to Hurricane Helene’s devastation. These are challenging times, but I’ve seen the strength and resilience of this community. Verizon’s support is a powerful reminder that no one is alone, and together, we’ll rise stronger. It’s a privilege to share this message of hope with the incredible people of North Carolina,” he said.



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Preview: Stanford WBB welcomes No. 15 North Carolina to Maples

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Preview: Stanford WBB welcomes No. 15 North Carolina to Maples


On Sunday at 12:00 PM PT on The CW, Stanford women’s basketball will welcome No. 15 North Carolina to Maples Pavilion. Stanford comes in at 11-9 overall and 3-6 in the ACC while North Carolina comes in at 19-4 overall and 7-3 in the ACC.

Last time out: Stanford defeated Pittsburgh at home on Thursday by a final score of 58-46. Elena Bosgana and Chloe Clardy each had 14 points for Stanford.

RECAP: Stanford WBB powers past Pitt

On North Carolina: The Tarheels are having a strong season, coming off a 65-52 win at No. 19 Cal on Wednesday. Their top win of the season is a 53-46 overtime victory over Duke, who is now ranked No. 10 after being ranked No. 14 at the time of their meeting. The most impressive stat of all is the Tarheels are a perfect 5-0 in true road games. They’re not fazed by having to go on the road.

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The top two scorers for the Tarheels are graduate student guard/forward Alyssa Ustby (11.4 points & 9.4 rebounds) and senior forward/center Maria Gakdeng (10.9 points & 6.8 rebounds). They’re the only two players scoring in double figures for the Tarheels, but there’s a lot of depth with four additional players scoring 7+ points per game.

When looking at the stats, it’s clear the Tarheels are a defensive oriented team as they hold opponents to 54.7 points per game on 34.8% shooting from the field, 27.7% shooting from 3-point range, and 69.3% shooting from the foul line. They do a great job playing defense both on the perimeter and inside.

As for their offensive stats, the Tarheels average 73.3 points per game on 43.8% shooting from the field, 34.1% shooting from 3-point range, and 65.4% shooting from the foul line. So they do a nice job of scoring efficiently. As for the rest of their stats, the Tarheels average 39.7 rebounds, 15.6 assists, 8.8 steals, 4.5 blocks, and 12.7 turnovers per game. They also average a +3.4 rebounding margin and a +5.7 turnover margin per game.

Keys to the game: For Stanford, the first thing they need to do is take care of the ball. North Carolina makes a living forcing turnovers and making teams pay on the other end. If Stanford can avoid turning the ball over too much, that more than anything will help them win this game.

The second thing Stanford needs to do is find a way to get some threes to fall. They were shooting bricks against Pittsburgh and were lucky that Pittsburgh is not a good team. Stanford has to find a way to get some threes to fall if they are to win this game.

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Finally, Stanford needs to feed off the home crowd energy. One thing they are lucky about is they are facing North Carolina on Sunday at noon as opposed to when Cal faced them, which was on Thursday night. Sunday afternoon crowds are always strong and energetic. Stanford needs to feed off that energy and use that to their advantage. This of course means getting off to a good start. If Stanford can win the first quarter, maybe they make this interesting. If they are down big at the end of the first quarter, this one will likely go the Tarheels’ way.

Prediction: I see Stanford putting up a real fight but falling short. North Carolina 68 Stanford 58 is how I see this one going.

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Email: slamdunk406@yahoo.com

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Cooper Flagg leads way as Duke blow out North Carolina in rivalry game

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Cooper Flagg leads way as Duke blow out North Carolina in rivalry game


Freshmen Cooper Flagg and Kon Knueppel made memorable debuts in the Tobacco Road rivalry as No 2 Duke used a dominant first half to secure an 87-70 win over visiting North Carolina on Saturday night in Durham, North Carolina.

Flagg racked up 21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals for Duke (19-2, 11-0 in Atlantic Coast Conference play), who extended the longest active winning streak in the country to 15 games. Meanwhile, Knueppel scored 13 of his game-high 22 points in the second half and added five rebounds and five assists.

Tyrese Proctor had 17 points and Sion James 13 for the Blue Devils, who forced nine of North Carolina’s 14 total turnovers in the first half and led by as many as 27 points before intermission.

RJ Davis and Drake Powell each scored 12 points and Seth Trimble netted 10 for North Carolina (13-10, 6-5), who lost for the fourth time in five outings. Duke snapped a two-game losing streak in the series.

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Flagg scored or assisted on Duke’s first 18 points of the game. He sank two three-pointers and converted a three-point play while also assisting on a pair of James dunks, plus a triple and a dunk by Proctor.

When Knueppel hit a three and another jumper 31 seconds apart, it capped a 16-0 Duke run for a 23-6 lead less than seven minutes into the contest.

Cooper Flagg of the Duke Blue Devils attempts to block a shot during the second half of Saturday’s game against the North Carolina Tar Heels at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Photograph: Jared C Tilton/Getty Images

Elliot Cadeau’s three-pointer pulled North Carolina within 16 points before Duke’s defense went back to work. The Blue Devils made the Tar Heels miss their next nine attempts from the floor, two of them swatted away by Flagg. Duke stitched together an 11-point run of mostly free throws for an overwhelming 40-13 lead with 5:16 left in the half.

Flagg’s fadeaway jumper at the first-half buzzer made it 47-25 Blue Devils and gave the freshman 13 points in the half to go with four boards, five assists and two steals.

Duke made its first six shots from the floor of the second half. Knueppel put up 11 quick points as the Blue Devils stretched their lead to 62-34 with 15:49 to play.

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Ian Jackson converted a four-point play to give the Tar Heels a brief jolt. But when Flagg knocked down his third three-pointer of the game, it handed Duke their first 30-point advantage of the night at 74-44 with 9:53 still on the clock.

North Carolina cut a 32-point deficit to 16 in the final stages, as Powell gave the team a late boost with all 12 of his points coming in the final 12 minutes.



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