Across Sumter County, downed power lines, fallen trees and closed roads have Sumter County emergency management officials working overtime and getting help from unlikely places.

Putting out back to back fires, like one that came up on Harry Avenue after a power line sparked a fire, was an all-day, all-hands on deck ordeal for Sumter County emergency management officials, deputies and first responders.

“With the schools and the courts closed today, there were extra deputies available to man the streets, starting very early this morning,” said Major Randall Stewart of the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

It all comes after Ian blew through the area on Friday.

“Everybody’s working in conjunction with each other to help out wherever’s needed,” said Donna Dew, who serves as the director for Sumter County Emergency Management. “Most of the time all the people out here doing this we’ve done this before.”

But what’s different this time around they say is the unexpected help from people including student resource officers, and several people who’d normally be working to keep the courtrooms running to ensure roads and homes were clear of danger.

“Most of the time we don’t have the extra volunteers like that that are coming in, outside of the fire department,” said Dew.

It’s because of those efforts that damage in the area has been kept to a minimum. But they’re not out of the woods just yet.

“We’re still concerned about the same ongoing issue about downed powerlines and downed trees that cause this issue,” Stewart also said.

With the added threats of flash flooding and falling limbs and power lines in the coming days, they have a stern warning for the community.

“We just continue to encourage our citizens that if you don’t have to get out and drive, stay in, stay put, until this thing passes on over us,” Dew went on to say. “Drive with caution. Just be careful, be safe, and if you see water in the roadway, don’t go through it, turn around.”