The United States Army
09/29/2024 | News release | Archived content
National Guard Rescues Hundreds of People in Hurricane's Wake
[Link] 1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption -Soldiers with the Florida Army National Guard's 1-111th General Support Aviation Regiment worked alongside members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team to conduct emergency response operations after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Capt. Valeria M. Pete)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption -Sgt. Justin Wingarder, a crew chief from the Florida Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, conducts a search and rescue mission in an HH-60 Black Hawk helicopter outside Tallahassee International Airport Sept. 27, 2024. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Eli Johnson)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption -Florida Army National Guard, State Guard, local law enforcement, EMS, and fire personnel work together at an emergency operations center in Perry, Fla., Sept. 26, 2024. Response to Hurricane Helene is a massive team effort, and FLARNG fully mobilizes all available forces. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christian Wilson)VIEW ORIGINAL
ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 6,300 National Guard members from a dozen states rescued hundreds of people and cleared roads across the Southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene.
As of Tuesday, Guardsmen were mobilized in Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia, with help from the Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Ohio, Kentucky and Iowa National Guard.
Using helicopters, high-water vehicles and boats, the Guard members rescued people stranded by flooding from the massive storm that made landfall in the Big Bend area of Florida late Thursday night. Guardsmen also cleared downed trees and debris from roads, patrolled hard-hit areas and distributed food and water.
Helene caused widespread damage and power outages before it weakened, with rain and flooding across the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys and the Mid-Atlantic States.
In Florida, over 3,450 Guard members rescued 165 people and more than 60 animals using helicopters, Zodiac boats and high-water vehicles. They cleared over 2,200 miles of roads and established 36 places to distribute supplies.
"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, Florida National Guard, told CNN Saturday.
Alpha Co. 2-124th Infantry Regiment at the POD site in Woodville, FL, on Sept. 28, 2024. Soldiers are seen handing out food, water, and tarps to civilians affected by Hurricane Helene. The footage captures the steady flow of vehicles as residents arrive to receive essential supplies, highlighting the unit's efforts in supporting the local community during recovery operations.
In Georgia, 1,395 Georgia Guardsmen conducted search and rescue operations, cleared routes with chainsaws and set up commodity distribution points.
In North Carolina, more than 700 Guard members, supplemented by 80 Guardsmen from Maryland, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, New York and South Carolina, cleared roads, transported commodities and conducted search and rescue missions with helicopters.
More than 490 South Carolina Guardsmen cleared roads with chainsaw teams and supported local emergency operations centers.
"Our National Guardsmen are trained and ready to support the citizens of South Carolina," said U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Robin B. Stilwell, South Carolina National Guard director of the joint staff. "Our efforts are focused on assisting county and state agencies."
[Link] 1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1221st Engineer Company, 122nd Engineer Battalion, South Carolina Army National Guard, from Graniteville, traveled to North Augusta, Sept. 28, 2024, in support of local agencies as they continue to respond to recovery efforts post Helene. Despite power outages, blocked roads, downed power lines, and widespread damage, the South Carolina National Guard is actively engaged in assisting South Carolinians in affected areas across the state and stands ready to continue to provide help to our citizens in need. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -FLARNG Soldiers from the 753rd Brigade Engineering Battalion clear debris from roads in Bell, Fla., on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Response to Hurricane Helene is a massive team effort, and FLARNG fully mobilizes all available forces. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Brandon Miles)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -Georgia National Guard route clearance teams, including Georgia State Defense Force, Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency and state and local agencies, worked to clear roads and ensure that residents and businesses impacted by Hurricane Helene received essential supplies.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -FLARNG Soldiers from the 753rd Brigade Engineering Battalion clear debris from roads in Bell, Fla., on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Response to Hurricane Helene is a massive team effort, and FLARNG fully mobilizes all available forces. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Brandon Miles)VIEW ORIGINAL
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -FLARNG Soldiers from the 753rd Brigade Engineering Battalion clear debris from roads in Bell, Fla., on Saturday, September 28, 2024. Response to Hurricane Helene is a massive team effort, and FLARNG fully mobilizes all available forces. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Brandon Miles)VIEW ORIGINAL
In Tennessee, more than 125 Guardsmen were mobilized, providing 24-hour, ground and aerial rescue and relief support and clearing roads. Since flooding began, service members from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, based at Knoxville's Joint Base McGhee-Tyson and Nashville's Berry Field, have rescued over 100 people and transported over 34,000 pounds of drinking water, food, generators and other equipment to those in need. They also performed reconnaissance missions surveying dams, bridges, roadways and other critical infrastructure to begin 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's adjutant general. "We are working with local emergency management agencies through TEMA 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."
[Link] 1 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -Soldiers from the 2-116th Field Artillery pass out food and water to civilians in Perry, Fla., on September 29, 2024. FLARNG has established PODs throughout the area to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jalen Thomas)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 2 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -The Florida Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, prepares a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for support operations ahead of Hurricane Helene, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. The FLARNG is well-equipped, with assets including high-wheeled vehicles, helicopters, boats, and generators. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Eli Johnson)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 3 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -The Florida Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, prepares a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters for support operations ahead of Hurricane Helene, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024. The FLARNG is well-equipped, with assets including high-wheeled vehicles, helicopters, boats, and generators. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Eli Johnson)VIEW ORIGINAL[Link] 4 / 4Show Caption +Hide Caption -Since the landfall of Hurricane Helene, Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have worked around the clock in the Joint Emergency Operations Center, supporting Tennessee Emergency Management Agency's disaster response operations. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo)VIEW ORIGINAL
The Virginia National Guard mobilized more than 50 Guardsmen, rescuing six people with their Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team. They also cleared roads of downed trees and other debris.
Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with 1-111th General Support Aviation Regiment conduct flight operations during Hurricane Helene support missions at Army Aviation Support Facility 1, Fla., Sept. 27, 2024. Guardsmen provided aviation support capabilities as part of post-storm operations. Soldiers were joined by members of the North Central Florida Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 8 and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as they traveled to areas affected by the storm. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. N.W. Huertas)