Local firefighters head south to help prepare for Hurricane Helene

South Bend Fire Department

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- As Hurricane Helene prepares to make landfall Thursday night, roughly a dozen local firefighters loaded up and headed south to help any way they can.

"The group deploying are specially trained in swiftwater/flood rescue response," the SBFD said on social media.

Firefighters from South Bend, Goshen, and Mishawaka are on their way to North Carolina to assist with any rescue efforts needed from Hurricane Helene. The group left Wednesday evening with "a cache of equipment which included rescue boats," according to the post.

"Three of our firefighters, alongside others from our region including South Bend and Goshen, have been deployed as part of a swift water rescue team to North Carolina," the Mishawaka Fire Department said. "They are responding to the projected flash flooding caused by Hurricane Helene, ready to assist communities in desperate need."

Helene is currently a category 2 hurricane with wind speeds of 100 mph and is expected to hit the "Big Bend" region of Florida around 8 p.m. Thursday night. 

By the time Helene makes landfall, some expect it to be a category 3 hurricane.