MAINE, Maine — Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that the state is deploying assets and resources to help North Carolina with Hurricane Helene recovery efforts.
The Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and the Maine Forest Service (MFS) are deploying emergency response teams and command support vehicles to North Carolina, according to a press release sent by Mills' team.
"During times of crisis, Maine people always stand up to help our fellow Americans," Mills said in the release. "In the wake of this devastating hurricane, I am proud that Maine emergency response teams are deploying to help our friends in North Carolina as they recover from Hurricane Helene."
MEMA officials and MFS rangers will leave Thursday and Friday. They will first head to North Carolina's Emergency Operations Center for further direction on how they can help.
A group of MFS rangers are already helping with recovery efforts in North Carolina, the release said. The group is specifically working to remove hazards obstructing roadway access.
Hurricane Helene's death toll reached 200 on Thursday. This number could rise, as rescue crews make their way into the hardest hit areas. The tally already makes Helene the deadliest storm to hit the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
