South Carolina National Guard responds after Hurricane Matthew

By Capt. Jessica DonnellyOctober 12, 2016

South Carolina Guard engineers clear roadways
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
South Carolina Guard engineers clear roadways in Bluffton
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
South Carolina National Guard chaplain uplifts Soldiers helping with Hurricane Matthew relief efforts
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army Chaplain, 1st Lt. Richard Brown of the 122nd Engineer Battalion for the South Carolina Army National Guard, leads a group of Soldiers in a moment prayer as they work to remove debris and clear the roadways in Bluffton, South Carolina, Oct. ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
South Carolina National Guard Chaplain uplifts Soldiers
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

HILTON HEAD, S.C. -- The South Carolina National Guard was ready to respond to missions along the coastal region Sunday in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.

National Guard assets were pre-positioned throughout the region in preparation for the devastation expected as the storm passed through the state. As the skies cleared and assessments were conducted, the South Carolina National Guard was there.

"When the storm was over, we woke up that morning and they put us on the road," said Army Staff Sgt. David Roberts, 125th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge Company) section leader for heavy equipment operators.

They had been staged in the Hilton Head area earlier in the week as Hurricane Matthew was monitored, Roberts added. They had readied their equipment and were prepared to begin clearing roads as soon as the storm passed.

The engineer company is now working to clear the roads in Hilton Head as citizens begin returning home.

"There's a lot of debris, but we can go over just about any obstacle… Go through it, cut through it, or knock it out of the way," Roberts said. "We're just trying to make the roads as passable as possible."

Other engineer units are conducting similar missions throughout the state in areas affected by the storm, including Conway, Georgetown, Bluffton and McClellanville, as well as others.

Army Col. Jeffrey Jones, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade commander, explained that these assets were put in place after they had proven their value during the flooding of October 2015.

"We were thinking ahead this year," Jones said. "We anticipated the needs, and we're responding to the needs of the citizens in a timely manner."

Approximately 2,800 South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have been activated since Oct. 4 to support state and county emergency management agencies and local first responders after Governor Nikki Haley declared a State of Emergency.

Related Links:

Army.mil: North America NEws

National Guard Hurricane Matthew