A group of first responders from Rutherford County have already made their way to the Carolinas to help in the recovery efforts of Hurricane Florence.

But they aren't the only ones to head east to help as the hurricane made landfall Friday.

Murfreesboro Electric Department crews rolled out Friday morning on their way to Wilson, North Carolina, to get a jump on Hurricane Florence recovery efforts.

The crews, which included five men and three trucks, will assist the city of Wilson’s electric provider, Wilson Energy, said Murfreesboro Electric Department General Manager P.D. Mynatt on Thursday. Wilson is about 40 miles east of Raleigh and about 60 miles from the coast. The city’s population is around 50,000.

Murfreesboro Electric crews are expected to stay as long as they are needed, Mynatt said.

“Murfreesboro Electric Department takes its mission of providing safe, reliable electricity seriously, especially when the weather gets rough,” he said. “We are honored to be able to help out the people of Wilson, North Carolina, and we know that the favor will be returned by their electric provider when our customers are in need as well.”

TVA prepares East Tennessee for rain

On the state level, TVA is providing hurricane support to Duke Energy in North Carolina - staging trucks, helicopters and personnel now Friday in Charlotte.

The regional electricity provider is sending 80 transmission construction personnel and the equipment they need to support Duke Energy’s restoration work following Hurricane Florence.

Aviation Services will be sending two helicopters to support Duke Energy including two pilots and one mechanic to aid in the restoration efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence. The two helicopters were positioned in Wednesday and Thursday in Charlotte and will be secured there in a safe hangar until the storm passes. When the storm passes, the helicopters will be dispatched where needed to conduct storm damage assessments and potentially move crews and equipment to inaccessible areas.

Back in the Volunteer State, TVA’s River Forecasting Center in Knoxville is staffed 24/7 and has already taken action to prepare for the water that is coming.

Experts in TVA’s River forecast center have been working to move water out of tributaries for the past week and have started spilling on several main stem dams on the Tennessee River to prepare for the additional water that will be entering the system from North Carolina.

"Flood control and prevention are our goals for the Tennessee Valley as we prepare for the additional water and rainfall from Hurricane Florence," said Josh Clendenen, public relations for TVA.

Drawdowns on the main river system will be slightly lower than normal but not at winter levels as we prepare for excess water, he added.

Tennessee Red Cross opens three shelters for evacuees

Here in Tennessee, the Red Cross is working with partners and government officials to assess the needs of hurricane evacuees as well as Tennessee residents impacted by flooding. The Tennessee Red Cross opened shelters for evacuees.

Johnson City: Crossroads Christian Church, 1300 Suncrest Drive, Gray, TN 37615

Knoxville: Central Baptist of Bearden, 6300 Deane Hill Dr, Knoxville, TN 37919

Chattanooga: Brainerd Recreation Center, 7745 E. Brainerd Road, Chattanooga TN 37421

Updated information on shelter locations can be found at redcross.org/shelters.