Taylor Foundation Gives $50K for Flood-Safe Fire Station

The Down East Fire Department in Sea Level, North Carolina, has weathered 10 hurricanes in their current station. Each time, crews had to pack up everything and evacuate to avoid the flooding.

That exhausting cycle is about to end. The Taylor Foundation just donated $50,000 toward a brand new fire station on higher ground near the former Mariners Park site.

"It's a good feeling that we can give the money to the organization here that's going to be helpful to the Sea Level and the Down East communities," said Harry Taylor with the foundation. The gift brings the department closer to breaking ground on a facility that won't require constant storm prep and recovery.

For Captain of EMS Loni Goodwin, the change means more than just avoiding the physical work. "It's a lot of work. We have to pick up all of our supplies and belongings and move to another station," she explained. "This new station, it'll put everything in one place and we will not have to move anymore."

The current Station 2 has been gutted multiple times over the years. Each rebuild pulls resources and energy away from the department's real mission: serving the community.

The Ripple Effect

This new station represents more than just better infrastructure. When first responders aren't scrambling to protect their own equipment, they can focus entirely on protecting their neighbors.

The Sea Level and Down East communities will gain a reliable emergency response hub that can withstand the coastal storms that have become increasingly common. Firefighters and EMS crews will have a dependable home base, no matter what Mother Nature throws their way.

The Taylor Foundation's gift joins other fundraising efforts to make the flood-resistant station a reality. Construction is expected to begin soon, bringing an end to decades of storm-related disruptions.

After 10 hurricanes and countless hours of emergency evacuations, Down East's first responders are finally getting the stable home they deserve.