BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — First responders across the Carolinas met along the Catawba River on Friday for search and rescue training as summer and hurricane season loom.
More than 200 people were in Burke County for the Catawba Flood and Wilderness search exercise near Morganton.
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The training will focus on wilderness searches, swift water rescues and K-9 and drone searches.
“It’s pretty important for us, just so we’re safe when we go out, and we can keep each other safe and keep the public safe. If we’re not safe and know what we’re doing, then we can’t keep the public safe when we do rescue,” said Arcturus Fry, with Oak Hill Fire and Rescue.
Burke County Emergency Services and North Carolina Emergency Management are hosting the event along with the state parks service.
First responder from the Carolinas aren’t the only ones benefiting from the exercises. Folks from other states including Georgia and Kentucky will be in Burke County training over the next three days.
>> In the video at the top of the page, Channel 9′s Dave Faherty speaks with first responders on the importance of conducting rescue training in an environment that is as real as possible.
(WATCH BELOW: Mother, Children Nearly Swept Away In Catawba River)
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