By W. Thomas Smith Jr.

Forty-eight hours prior to Hurricane Florence’s projected thrust into central South Carolina, the Richland County (S.C.) Sheriff’s Dept. (RCSD) was already manning RCSD’s command post and deploying disaster “strike teams” to the various regions of the county.

The strike teams – which RCSD officials say are partnering with other local, state, and federal emergency response agencies – are trained and equipped for every possible storm-related scenario; and are capable of providing the full-spectrum of operations from counter-looting to swift-water rescue, securing perimeters around downed power lines, fielding chain-saw teams in order to clear debris from emergency routes, even saving stranded animals and checking-on elderly shut-ins.

RCSD strike teams are composed of deputies and other officers with RCSD’s Special Response Team (SWAT team), explosive ordnance disposal team, traffic and K-9 units. Pictured here are officers prior to rolling out an RCSD Zodiac boat as part of the deployment, Thurs., Sept. 13, as Florence began its slow battering of the coasts of the Carolinas.

– Visit the Richland County Sheriff’s Dept. at http://rcsd.net.