North Carolina firefighters rescued two elderly brothers whose mobile home was pinned under a tree following a tornado ahead of Hurricane Isaias this week.
Before Hurricane Isaias made landfall, nine Raleigh firefighters responded to destruction in Williamston caused by an EF-3 tornado, which generated winds of up to 140 mph, according to a city press release. The firefighters were part of North Carolina Urban Search & Rescue Task Force 8, which is deployed for major statewide emergencies and also is comprised of members from the Chapel Hill Fire Department and Wake County EMS.
While responding to calls, task force members used chainsaws to cut through fallen trees and remove downed power lines before they could reach homes.
“It looked like just bits and pieces,” Raleigh Fire Capt. Kevin Ellsworth said in the release. “Things that had been structures were strewn across fields. The wind just obliterated the place.“
As the firefighters cleared the debris, they heard shouts that led them to a mobile home pinned against a tree, according to the city. Two elderly brothers were trapped inside after the mobile home flipped several times.
“We had to climb up on top to get in and then pull them out," Ellsworth said. "They were definitely happy to see us. I think God put us in the right place to find them."
The brothers suffered minor injuries in the incident.
“It’s huge to us when we are able to do something like that," Ellsworth said. "It’s a good feeling to know you’ve made a difference.”
