FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- High-water vehicles, helicopters, swift boats and service members leap into action to assist those affected by the flooding from Hurricane Florence. The Total Army Force -- U.S. Army, the U.S. Army National Guard, and the U.S. Army Reserve -- are actively supporting FEMA, local municipalities, and citizens, as creeks and rivers rise above flood stage, threatening homes and communities.
With thousands across the region without power, the 249th Engineer Battalion continues to work with local electrical companies to assess power needs. Districts also continue to issue updates on the effects of the storm on their local operations.
Road conditions across North Carolina are rapidly deteriorating. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provides the following traffic inundation-mapping tool for reference by the public. These maps indicate the severity of water in regions affected by the recent Florence storm event and how they may impact vehicle movement in the area. Go to https://www.usace.army.mil for more information.
NOTE TO MEDIA:
Army leaders are willing to provide interviews and updates to members of the media. Please contact OCPA for availability. Embed opportunities for flights and ground operations are available to media interested in viewing the response operations.
Here are a few U.S. Army highlights as of 5 p.m. Eastern time, Sept. 17, 2018:
• More than 13,000 Soldiers are providing Total Army support to hurricane response.
• More than 3,000 Soldiers, Department of the Army Civilians, and dependents are displaced due to the impacts of the hurricane.
• Currently there are 1,224 road closures encompassing everything from interstate, U.S. highways, North Carolina state routes and secondary roads.
• Over 90 rotary wing aircraft from the U.S. Army, U.S. Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve committed to the effort with over 200 additional aircraft available within 24-72 hours if needed.
• Approximately 30 watercraft and 3,000 Army High-Water Vehicles from Fort Stewart, Georgia; Fort Drum, New York; and Fort Campbell, Kentucky are arriving for ground search and rescue, commodities distribution, citizen transportation, and patient movement.
• The Army has nearly 4,500 cots for citizens that are in need.
• The Army has nearly 200 medical beds ready for use.
• The Army has 18 water purification systems in the area.
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
• The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has 26 mission assignments and is actively working on temporary emergency power, debris, infrastructure assessment, water and wastewater assessment, temporary roofing and housing.
• USACE has 107 generators pre-positioned with an additional 96 en route to provide temporary emergency power support.
• South Carolina National Guard and USACE are coordinating to assist flood mitigation emergency operations in partnership with state and local officials. They are starting to place super sandbags to protect the 501 Corridor near Myrtle Beach, South Carolina from potential river flooding following heavy rainfall related to Hurricane Florence.
• USACE has begun assessments of coastal flood risk management project impacts and continues to monitor reservoir operations as Hurricane Florence begins moving north.
Visual imagery and b-roll footage is available at the following DVIDS link:
https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/armyhurricaneflorence
For continued updates, please monitor the following Army social media sites:
Facebook = https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
Twitter = https://twitter.com/USArmy (@USArmy)
Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/usarmy (@USArmy)
YouTube = https://www.youtube.com/user/usarmy
The Army will be using the following hashtag for all social media:
#ArmyResponse
Related Links:
STAND-TO! Army Disaster Personnel Accountability and Assessment System
STAND-TO! National Preparedness Month
STAND-TO! U.S. Army Hurricane Response
Social Sharing