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ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 6,600 National Guardsmen from multiple states were on duty Friday for Hurricane Milton response missions, rescuing storm victims, clearing debris from roads and distributing food, water and other critical supplies.
Just two weeks after Hurricane Helene cut a devastating path through the Southeast, National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from Florida and many other states mobilized before Hurricane Milton’s landfall in Florida even as more than 4,500 Guardsmen from 17 states continued to help victims of Hurricane Helene Friday.
“As you mobilize and prepare for this new challenge, please know that the citizens you serve are extraordinarily grateful to see a Florida Guardsman at their doorstep, roving streets in vehicles and distributing commodities,“ Maj. Gen. John Haas, Florida adjutant general, said in a message to his troops. ... “Our presence brings safety and security to many who have lost everything.“
Florida activated over 6,300 Guardsmen and secured the help of the National Guard in multiple states, including Arkansas, Ohio, Colorado, Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Virginia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Delaware, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, West Virginia and Texas. Their joint resources included 31 UH-60, HH-60, CH-47 and UH-72 helicopters, over 570 high-water vehicles and 13 boats.
“We are committed to providing the assistance Florida needs, just as they’ve done for us in the past,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas C. Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana.
The Louisiana National Guard dispatched two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with eight Louisiana Guardsmen to staging sites near Tallahassee, Florida.
“The Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen of the Florida Guard have come to Louisiana’s aid on many occasions, and we are proud to offer our support in their time of need,” said Lt. Col. William Saint, Louisiana National Guard joint director of military support.
The New Jersey National Guard sent 80 Soldiers and 30 military vehicles from the 42nd Regional Support Group to Camp Blanding to coordinate with the Florida Division of Emergency Management and the Florida National Guard.
“Our Soldiers are trained and ready to support our neighbors in need,” said Col. Yvonne L. Mays, acting adjutant general of New Jersey.
The New York National Guard chipped in 65 Soldiers and Airmen for search and rescue, medical and general support in Florida.
“The New York National Guard is ready to support our fellow citizens in Florida, as Hurricane Milton heads for their state,“ said Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, New York adjutant general. “Our Soldiers and Airmen are amazing in the way they respond on very short notice.”
The Colorado National Guard deployed one CH-47 Chinook helicopter and eight crew members from the 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 135th Regiment.
“Our unit has been closely following Hurricane Milton’s development and the National Guard’s response,” U.S. Army Lt. Col. Joe Bryant, commander, 2-135 GSAB said. “Last week the National Guard Bureau reached out to the force asking for available EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact) aid. We responded, and they accepted.”
A Virginia National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crew and members of the Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team arrived in Florida to provide rescue hoist capabilities. The Virginia Army National Guard was assembling a general-purpose company of 100 Soldiers and a transportation company with 105 Soldiers and 30 tactical trucks capable of high-mobility transport. Twenty Virginia Air National Guard engineers were deploying with front-end loaders and dump trucks to help clear storm debris.
States responded to Florida’s request for support through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the nation’s state-to-state mutual aid agreement. EMAC matches personnel, equipment and commodities to assist response and recovery efforts across all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.
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Contributing: Capt. Peter Drasutis, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office; Colorado National Guard Public Affairs; Eric Durr, New York National Guard; Cotton Puryear, Virginia National Guard Public Affairs; Alaska National Guard Public Affairs.
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