Army response to Hurricane Florence

By U.S. ArmySeptember 18, 2018

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1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from Fort Drum's 110th Composite Truck Company perform vehicle maintenance checks and record readiness on Sept. 13, 2018 in preparation for rapid deployment to the East Coast. The 10th Mountain Division Sustainment Brigade prepared with shor... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to 101st Sustainment Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, conduct training and preparations for Hurricane Florence relief efforts, Sept. 13, 2018 at Fort Campbell, Ky. The "Screaming Eagle" Soldiers will deploy in the near future to as... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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WASHINGTON -- As Hurricane Florence makes landfall, the Army braces for its impact and echoes FEMA's message: "Please evacuate NOW if told to do so by local officials. If you need a safe place to go, text SHELTER & your zip code to 43362."

Army helicopters, High-Water Vehicles, and Temporary Emergency Power Planning and Response Teams are standing by to support FEMA and the American People.

Here are a few U.S. Army highlights as of 5 p.m. Eastern time, Sept. 13, 2018:

• Approximately 20 Army helicopters from Fort Drum, New York, Fort Bliss, Texas, and Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia, are on standby for Search and Rescue, emergency aeromedical evacuation, and utility duties such as commodity and personnel transport.

• Approximately 240 Army High-Water Vehicles from Fort Stewart, Georgia, Fort Drum, New York, and Fort Campbell, Kentucky are available for ground search and rescue, commodities distribution, citizen transportation, and patient movement.

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, has deployed 85 personnel, including Temporary Emergency Power Planning and Response Teams, to support hurricane preparations and response.

• In anticipation of power outages, USACE has pre-positioned 105 generators, with an additional 15 en route to provide temporary emergency power support.

• Fort Bragg, North Carolina continues to assist as a staging area for FEMA, providing a secure location for receiving and distributing supplies ahead of the hurricane.

• Fort Lee, Virginia has 105 ambulances ready to support as requested for hurricane efforts.

ARMY INSTALLATION AND TRAINING IMPACTS

• Fort Bragg, North Carolina is operating on a reduced manning status through Friday, Sept. 14, with mission and emergency essential personnel reporting.

• Army Training Center, Fort Jackson, South Carolina Basic Combat Training graduates will not ship to their next assignments until it is safe to travel.

• ACT Fort Jackson is preparing to receive approximately 2,000 evacuees from Charleston Naval bases in the South Carolina coastal regions.

• Combined Arms Support Command, Fort Lee, Virginia, will hold BCT graduates until approved for movement.

• For Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield, there is currently no impact to operations.

CORPS OF ENGINEERS

• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has more than 160 personnel engaged and coordinating with local, state and FEMA partners in preparation for storm impacts.

• USACE has received 14 mission assignments including national and regional activations, temporary emergency power, debris, infrastructure assessment, water and wastewater assessment and temporary roofing.

• USACE has deployed seven Deployable Tactical Operations Center Vehicles to assist with communication capabilities.

• USACE's Emergency Operations Centers have integrated into county and state efforts regarding flood response and will provide assistance once requested.

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

• Virginia: The Virginia National Guard is planning to bring up to 1,500 Soldiers and airmen for possible assistance with the state's response operations.

• North Carolina: The North Carolina National Guard will activate 320 National Guard Soldiers on state orders integrating into North Carolina Emergency Management's disaster response plan. There are 7,000 additional North Carolina citizen-Soldiers and airmen ready to mobilize when called by the governor.

• South Carolina: About 1,100 National Guard Soldiers are on state orders for hurricane response. Guard personnel will remain on duty as long as needed.

• Maryland: The Maryland National Guard anticipates activating 500 Soldiers for hurricane response.

For continued updates, please monitor the Army social media sites listed below.

The Army will be using the following hashtag for all social media:

#ArmyResponse

Related Links:

Army National Guard prepares for Hurricane Florence

Soldiers ready to assist with Hurricane Florence relief

More than 7,000 troops ready to aid fellow citizens as Hurricane Florence hits East Coast

Army.mil: Hurricane Relief Efforts

STAND-TO! Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System

STAND-TO! National Preparedness Month

STAND-TO! U.S. Army Hurricane Response

Click here for visual imagery and b-roll footage

Army Facebook

Ready.gov: Hurricane Preparedness

Army Instagram