North Carolina National Guard Staging in Charlotte Ahead of Hurricane Irma

CHARLOTTE, NC – Sunday dozens of National Guard soldiers and airmen arrived in Charlotte.

They’re staging at a facility on West Boulevard, ready to respond to whatever Irma brings our way.

“Clearing roads, getting roads back in place, getting areas accessible again,” explains Lt. Brian Belvin.

He says each team has specialized training.

“We’ve got rescue teams that can do swift water rescue and all hazard teams that can go and help not only with clearing out roads but can also assist with high water evacuations,” he says.

Governor Roy Cooper activated 315 members of the guard.

Along with Charlotte, they’re staging in Asheville and Greensboro, where the Governor toured Sunday.

He says while North Carolina won’t get the worst of the storm, people here still need to be vigilant.

“We don’t know where that flash flood might be or that tornado could potentially hit,” Cooper says.

Because of Irma’s track, the Governor has decided to move resources from the eastern part of the state to the west.

“It can still cause a lot of rain, and wind, and potential flooding, so we have to be ready for that,” Cooper says.

Guardsman say they’re up to the challenge.

“I wanted that aspect for me personally for me to be able to help my neighbor. Help my fellow people in the state of North Carolina,” Belvin says.