Members of the South Carolina State Fire’s Palmetto Incident Support Team (IST) have been authorized to deploy to Hawaii to aid in response and recovery efforts following recent flash flooding in the region.
During their deployment, IST members will work within the Honolulu County Emergency Operations Center, collaborating with local, state, and federal partners to support ongoing operations.
The deployment was arranged through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a national mutual aid system designed to facilitate disaster assistance between states.
This is not the first time South Carolina has provided support to Hawaii through EMAC. The state previously deployed a mitigation specialist and an Individual Assistance officer to assist following flooding in 2018 and also offered remote support during the 2023 wildfires.
The deployment highlights the role of South Carolina State Fire in national incident management efforts. The team is equipped to integrate quickly into existing operations, providing valuable expertise and assistance to help the Honolulu community recover.
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