Members of Belmont Fire, Electric Head South To Aid in Hurricane Recovery Efforts

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, which tore through the Southeastern U.S. late last week—killing more than 100 people—utility workers and first responders from across Massachusetts are joining the recovery efforts.

Among those who have made their way south are Belmont Fire Lt. Michael Madruga and Belmont Light line workers Dan Rapaglia and Jamie Viglirolo. Madruga was deployed to North Carolina to support the federal response to aid in rescue efforts for people impacted by the recent hurricane. Rapaglia and Viglirolo, meanwhile, traveled to Sylvania, Georgia last week with a contingent of Massachusetts public power utilities coordinated through the Northeast Public Power Association.

According to the Associated Press, at least 120 people in six states were known dead as of Monday, with destruction stretching from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia.

“(Viglirolo and Rapaglia) will be there through the end of this week for sure and until we have more clarity on the need for them to be held longer,” General Manager Craig Spinale said in an email to The Voice.

Madruga and other members of Massachusetts Task Force 1 (MATF-1) are working alongside three other teams assigned to North Carolina, according to Fire Chief David DeStefano. He is expected to be deployed for approximately two weeks.

“Lt. Madruga is a highly motivated and very well-trained individual,” DeStefano said in a release. “He brings years of hazardous material knowledge as well as paramedic skills to any incident to which he responds. We are all proud of the work he does on the USAR team.”

According to DeStefano, the teams deployed for this incident have swift-water rescue training and other technical skills and equipment needed to rescue trapped victims and make local conditions safe for residents.