Thousands of Guardsmen supporting Hurricane Ian response

By Sgt. 1st Class Zach SheelySeptember 29, 2022

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ponder, a Soldier in the Florida National Guard, reviews the latest updates concerning Hurricane Ian's arrival and potential impact to Florida, while stationed at the Joint Operations Center, Sept. 26, 2022. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered approximately 5,000 troops to state active duty, staging them in armories across the state in preparation to respond to Hurricane Ian after it makes landfall.
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ponder, a Soldier in the Florida National Guard, reviews the latest updates concerning Hurricane Ian's arrival and potential impact to Florida, while stationed at the Joint Operations Center, Sept. 26, 2022. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered approximately 5,000 troops to state active duty, staging them in armories across the state in preparation to respond to Hurricane Ian after it makes landfall. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Vann) VIEW ORIGINAL
NY Army Guard heads off to Florida
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A CH-47 assigned to B Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, NY National Guard taxis to the runway at Greater Rochester International Airport, Rochester NY, Sept. 28 2022. Soldiers and crew were called up in support of emergency measures in Florida, brought on by Hurricane Ian. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Jason Carr) VIEW ORIGINAL
Louisiana National Guard sends troops to Florida
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter departs a Louisiana Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility to assist with Hurricane Ian emergency response efforts, Hammond, Louisiana, Sept. 28, 2022. In accordance with the guidelines of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) process and at the request of the Florida Department of Emergency Management, the LANG is deploying personnel and equipment to support the Florida National Guard in their response to the hurricane. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Garrett Dipuma) VIEW ORIGINAL

ARLINGTON, Va. — More than 5,000 National Guardsmen from multiple states are positioned across southwest and central Florida to help communities devastated by Hurricane Ian.

Florida Guardsmen and others from Louisiana, New York and Tennessee — with more on the way from Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia — are standing by to provide direct support in the wake of the catastrophic storm, said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the chief of the National Guard Bureau.

“We’re hurt by the significant devastation we’re seeing and the impact on the lives of Florida citizens,” Hokanson said. “In the immediate aftermath, search and rescue will be the focus. Our concern is saving lives and getting our folks in there as quickly as possible to make a difference in that critical time to get people out of situations that may be potentially life-threatening to them.

“Because we’re in every community, we’re part of the first responders to assist in recovery immediately,” he said.

Ian made landfall on Florida’s southwest coast Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 hurricane with 150 mph winds and record storm surges, flooding cities up and down the Gulf Coast. Now a tropical storm, there is still a danger of life-threatening storm surges and flooding through Friday along the northeast Florida, Georgia and South Carolina coasts.

Soldiers assigned to the 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) conduct daily maintenance and pre-flight inspections on a CH-47F Chinook helicopter at Opa-locka, Florida, on Sept. 28, 2022. The 1-111th GSAB, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, was activated to support the Florida National Guard’s response to Hurricane Ian.
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers assigned to the 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB) conduct daily maintenance and pre-flight inspections on a CH-47F Chinook helicopter at Opa-locka, Florida, on Sept. 28, 2022. The 1-111th GSAB, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, was activated to support the Florida National Guard’s response to Hurricane Ian. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shane Klestinski) VIEW ORIGINAL
New York Army National Guard Ch-47F Chinook Helicopters head for Florida
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A New York Army National Guard Soldier assigned to B Company of the 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment watches as a CH-47F prepares to start engines on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022 at Frederick Douglas Greater Rochester International Airport, en route to Florida to assist in hurricane response missions. At the direction of Governor Kathy Hochul, 11 Soldiers and two CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters were dispatched to Florida. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Jason Carr) VIEW ORIGINAL

Widespread, life-threatening flooding, with major to record river flooding, will continue Thursday across central Florida, with considerable flooding in northern Florida, southeastern Georgia, and eastern South Carolina expected through the end of the week.

Hokanson said the Guard was working closely with local authorities to ensure the right people and equipment were in the right places to maximize impact.

That equipment includes 16 helicopters, 1,640 high-wheeled vehicles, seven boats, 36 fuel tankers and generators to conduct search and rescue operations, clear roads and support law enforcement.

“This is primarily where our assets and high-water vehicles can really get in there and control those areas where people might be trapped or in danger to try to get them to safety as quickly as possible,” Hokanson said.

Helicopters will also be critical in search and rescue and supply transport, said Army Maj. Gen. Joseph Jarrod, the National Guard Bureau director of operations.

“We’ve also got aviation assets that they will use to get to those hard-to-reach places to ensure that, one, we want to save as many lives as possible, and then if people are OK, get supplies to them so that they can weather the storm and the aftermath of it,” Jarrod said.

With extensive damage to infrastructure and millions of residents without power, the Florida Guard’s 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion provided emergency communication capabilities to civilians and first responders.

Sgt. Kasey Jones and Spc. Jeremiah White, soldiers from the Florida National Guard’s 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, discuss network equipment crucial to the relief effort with oncoming Hurricane Ian. Governor Ron Desantis called upon the combined strength of the Florida National Guard to provide support wherever needed, with signal capabilities targeting the possibility of incapacitated networks across the state.
Sgt. Kasey Jones and Spc. Jeremiah White, soldiers from the Florida National Guard’s 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, discuss network equipment crucial to the relief effort with oncoming Hurricane Ian. Governor Ron Desantis called upon the combined strength of the Florida National Guard to provide support wherever needed, with signal capabilities targeting the possibility of incapacitated networks across the state. (Photo Credit: U.S Army Photo by Pfc. Alexander Helman) VIEW ORIGINAL

“We are preparing for Hurricane Ian by giving our Soldiers training on the Transportable Tactical Command Communications Ground Antenna Transmit and Receive devices,” Sgt. Justin Love, a satellite communication systems operator-maintainer with the 146th ESB, said Tuesday. “This training will allow us to support emergency operation centers when services are needed, such as phone service and internet.”

As part of an emergency management assistance compact, the Tennessee National Guard mobilized some 1,200 Guard members to Florida.

“We have a tremendous amount of experience responding to natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes and we are ready to help the citizens of Florida,” said Army Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessee’s adjutant general.

“It is why we wear the uniform, and once again, it’s the strength of the National Guard on display. We’re grateful for the families, employers, and communities for their continued ongoing support to our Guardsmen,” Holmes said.

The National Guard Bureau Joint Operations Center in Arlington, Virginia, was operating around the clock to help coordinate the Guard’s ongoing response. According to an NGB assessment, National Guard activations will continue over the next 48 hours due to current and forecast weather conditions.

“The National Guard will stay as long as we’re needed,” Hokanson said.