The Statewide Disaster Assistance Network (SDAN) is a program created and operated by the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association to allow sheriffs’ offices across the state to request and offer aid to other sheriffs in the event of a disaster. In coordination with North Carolina Emergency Management, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association manages resources requested and offered by sheriffs’ offices across the state.

Through SDAN, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association is continuing to successfully coordinate a recovery response to Western North Carolina counties that were impacted by the devastating Hurricane Helene.

SDAN was activated by North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association President Sheriff Mike Roberson of Chatham County on Thursday, September 26th as Hurricane Helene left a path of destruction in its wake in 27 Western North Carolina Counties. The impact on Western North Carolina was catastrophic as the storm brought heavy rainfall and wind, causing widespread flash flooding, mudslides, and extremely dangerous, life-threatening conditions.

Sheriff Roberson explained, “We knew immediately that this storm would have a massive impact in our state. The effects have been like nothing we have seen in the recent past. Activating the Statewide Disaster Assistance Network allowed the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association to begin working right away to coordinate resources and let sheriffs’ offices from around the state get assistance to those counties impacted as soon as possible.”

Emergency services in Western North Carolina have been overwhelmed with the countless calls for service and requests for help from their citizens. Thanks to coordination from the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association’s SDAN, as of today, 78 sheriffs’ offices from across North Carolina have sent much needed personnel and equipment to Western North Carolina. This includes 578 deputies, 18 detention officers, and 18 telecommunicators. SDAN has also coordinated the relocation of almost 350 county jail inmates to other county jails.

Sheriffs’ offices also provided a variety of rescue equipment to the area, including aerial and underwater drones, helicopters, tactical Bearcat vehicles, utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), generators, high-water vehicles, and more.

Personnel at the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association headquarters in Raleigh have been working around the clock each day since SDAN was activated to make sure that deputies, detention officers and telecommunicators have been dispatched immediately to sheriffs’ offices in the mountain counties in need. The NCSA SDAN program will continue to do so as long as there is a need for assistance.

Sheriffs from impacted counties have expressed their gratitude for the assistance from SDAN and their fellow sheriffs in the wake of tragedy. Sheriff Len Hagaman of Watauga County commented, “I am once again amazed and am so very blessed for everyone on the NCSA team … We are now both ‘Watauga and NCSA Strong.’”

Sheriff Ricky Buchanan of McDowell County said, “With the help of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs from across the state, we have been able to maintain an increased law enforcement presence in our county, 24 -7, since this disaster occurred. This has allowed us to focus our attention on those hit hardest by this disaster.”

Hurricane Helene has become the second-deadliest hurricane to hit the mainland United States since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, with a confirmed death toll of at least 231 people across six states. That number is still expected to climb as recovery efforts continue to take place. More than 100 of those deaths were in North Carolina, including two sheriff’s deputies – one from the Macon County Sheriff’s Office, and another from the Madison County Sheriff’s Office.

Founded in 1922, the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association is a statewide not-for-profit professional and educational organization of our state’s 100 sheriffs. Through their Association, sheriffs work to strengthen the law enforcement profession and services their offices provide to the people of North Carolina.

The mission of the North Carolina Sheriffs’ Association, Inc. is to serve as the statewide voice to protect, promote, preserve, and enhance the Office of Sheriff in North Carolina through education, training, and legislative initiatives that increase public safety and protect the rights of the citizens of North Carolina. Proudly serving the sheriffs and citizens of North Carolina since 1922.