Charlotte Crews Prep For Emergency Response

Several Charlotte medical professionals left Friday on their way to help hundreds of people in Hurricane Irene's path. The four people who left are with the Metrolina Trauma Advisory Committe. It's a state-funded team, created to roll into the path of disaster and help those in need.

"I got it OK'ed with my manager, Jill at the hospital. She said, 'Go ahead and help some people,'" said Aaaron Crawford.

He didn't leave with Friday's team but is on standby to help should North Carolina emergency officials need more help this weekend. On Friday the team took a lot of medical supplies and equipment. Eyewitness News was there as they loaded up four semi-trucks with items including oxygen tanks, IV pumps and ventilators.

"We don't know what to expect, so we have to prepare for anything," said Greg Fleming, who helped organize MTAC's trip.

A team of four including a nurse, a pharmacist, a paramedic and a firefighter-- headed to Greenville on Friday. They planned to meet up with other response teams from across the state and set up a mobile care center for nursing home and hospital evacuees.

"This is our first response since Hurricane Katrina," said Crawford.

About 120 others are on standby to deploy, but all of them are ready to do anything to help.

"If they needed me to sweep floors while I'm there, that's fine with me," said Crawford.

MTAC organizers said they have several other truckloads full of supplies to send for disaster relief, if needed.