Louisiana National Guard sends assistance to Florida after Hurricane Ian

By Staff Sgt. Noshoba DavisSeptember 30, 2022

Louisiana National Guard sends troops to Florida
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

PINEVILLE, La. — The Louisiana National Guard is responding to the Florida Department of Emergency Management’s request for assistance through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC, process after Hurricane Ian, Sept. 30.

Roughly 60 Louisiana National Guard Soldiers, 30 tactical vehicles and one UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter have moved into Florida to assist local and state officials with various recovery efforts, including search and rescue missions, commodities and supplies distribution and convoy planning, coordination and execution.

“These guys have been in the LANG a long time, know what’s going on and what they are doing,” said Capt. Harry James, executive officer for 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Nearly 60 Louisiana National Guardsmen assigned to the 1087th Transportation Company, 165th Combat Sustainment and Support Brigade, 139th Regional Support Group, prepare roughly 30 tactical vehicles to assist emergency operations in Florida after Hurricane Ian, Slidell, Louisiana, Sept. 29, 2022.
Nearly 60 Louisiana National Guardsmen assigned to the 1087th Transportation Company, 165th Combat Sustainment and Support Brigade, 139th Regional Support Group, prepare roughly 30 tactical vehicles to assist emergency operations in Florida after Hurricane Ian, Slidell, Louisiana, Sept. 29, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Garrett Dipuma) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Louisiana National Guard response comes just one year after the Florida National Guard’s 122nd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Squadron (REDHORSE) came to Louisiana’s aid and removed downed trees and other debris from roadways after Hurricane Ida tore through the pelican state.

“Prior to Hurricane Ida, we were prepared to provide support to Florida in 2017 in response to Hurricane Irma,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Middleton, deputy director of joint force development for the Louisiana National Guard. “It is a team effort from all states across the nation to develop plans to fill those gaps and provide a comprehensive National Guard response to the citizens in the affected areas.”

The EMAC concept was approved by Congress in 1996 and is an interstate mutual aid agreement that provides governors with a means to quickly request assistance for any type of emergency.

Louisiana National Guard sends trucks, Soldiers to Florida
Nearly 60 Louisiana Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1087th Transportation Company, 165th Combat Sustainment and Support Brigade, 139th Regional Support Group, prepare roughly 30 tactical vehicles to assist emergency operations in Florida after Hurricane Ian, Slidell, Louisiana, Sept. 29, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Garrett Dipuma) VIEW ORIGINAL

“We maintain a standing non-binding agreement for various capabilities needed,” Middleton. “They generally focus on post-storm support due to the lack of confidence in a storm’s final landfall location pre-storm, and the fact that a storm in the Gulf of Mexico may affect multiple states.”

The Louisiana National Guard stands ready to assist and support Florida communities affected by natural disasters.

“We joined this organization to help our local communities, and we want the Florida National Guard to be able to help their local communities. If we can assist with any heavy lifting and allow them to get out there and see their people, then we’ve done our job,” said James. “That’s what it’s about, people helping people.”