National Guard provides relief to communities after Hurricane Helene
The National Guard takes great pride in providing aid and assistance to their own communities in the wake of natural disasters. To that end, over 6,700 National Guard members from 16 states mobilized in response to Hurricane Helene. Guardsmen in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia mobilized in and around their home states. Additionally, Guardsmen from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Kentucky, Maryland, Alabama, Indiana and Iowa provided assistance to the Southeast where Helene claimed over 200 lives.
Using high-water vehicles, boats, and helicopters, the National Guard rescued hundreds of people who were stranded by flooding when Helene made landfall. Heavy rain and wind also felled trees which blocked roads and caused power outages. Guardsmen used their military training and equipment to clear roads, patrol neighborhoods for people in need of help, and distribute food and water. In Florida alone, Guardsmen rescued 165 people and over 60 animals, cleared over 2,200 miles of roads, and established 36 supply distribution sites. "It's pretty devastating to look at a lot of homes that have been wiped off the foundations and a lot of people that are probably going to be having to restart their lives pretty shortly," Brig. Gen. Alex Harlamor, Director of the Joint Staff, Florida National Guard, told CNN.
In North Carolina, roads were flooded and blocked in the wake of the hurricane. Over 760 North Carolina Guardsmen were joined by more than 140 Guardsmen from Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, New York, and South Carolina to clear roads, conduct search & rescue, and transport supplies. A North Carolina Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III flew over 100,000 pounds of food and water from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to Asheville Regional Airport; the mountain town was practically cut off from surrounding areas by flooding and debris, making the airport a vital supply hub.
In South Carolina, over 730 Guardsmen cleared roads in chainsaw teams and provided support to local emergency operations centers. They were augmented by members of the New York National Guard, including three CH-47 Chinook helicopters that provided heavy lift support across the Palmetto State. 20 National Guard engineers from New York brought heavy equipment with them including dump trucks, backhoes, front-end loaders, and cranes. "Our National Guardsmen are trained and ready to support the citizens of South Carolina," said Brig. Gen. Robin B. Stilwell, Director of the Joint Staff, South Carolina National Guard, in a press release. "Our efforts are focused on assisting county and state agencies."
In Tennessee, over 280 Guardsmen provided 24-hour ground and aerial rescue as well as road clearance relief. Heavy flooding in Eastern Tennessee led to over 100 helicopter rescues by the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion. The unit also lifted over 34,000 pounds of supplies including food, water, and generators. From the air, Guardsmen also supported follow-on recovery operations by surveying dams, bridges, roadways, and other infrastructure for repairs. "Our priority has been to rapidly deploy to the affected areas and assist emergency responders with rescue operations," said Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee National Guard Adjutant General, in a press release. "We are working with local emergency management agencies through TEMA (Tennessee Emergency Management Agency) by providing forces and support wherever needed. Our Guardsmen are prepared to help with relief efforts for as long as we are needed to ensure the safety of our fellow Tennesseans."
