DOD, FEMA working in unison on hurricane relief efforts

By Matthew Olay, DOD NewsOctober 11, 2024

WASHINGTON — The Defense Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency are fully engaged in a whole-of-government effort to provide relief to victims of both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the Pentagon announced Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024.

Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, check in with a resident following Hurricane Milton during a Survey and Assist patrol in Kissimmee, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. The Florida National Guard...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, check in with a resident following Hurricane Milton during a Survey and Assist patrol in Kissimmee, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. The Florida National Guard ensures the safety and well-being of residents in affected areas. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marc Morgenstern) VIEW ORIGINAL
Florida Army National Guard, Sgt. Ryan Leidle, left, and Sgt. Austin Fennecken, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS/HIMARS) crewmembers with 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, check in with a resident affected by Hurricane Milton...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard, Sgt. Ryan Leidle, left, and Sgt. Austin Fennecken, Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS/HIMARS) crewmembers with 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, check in with a resident affected by Hurricane Milton during a survey and assist patrol in Kissimmee, Florida, Oct. 10th, 2024. Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are positioned around the state and will be responding to missions that include search and rescue, law enforcement support, humanitarian assistance and more. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marc Morgenstern) VIEW ORIGINAL

The efforts include thousands of DOD personnel, vehicles and equipment providing relief on the ground in the affected states of Florida and North Carolina, as well as executive-level coordination in the nation's capital.

In Florida, more than 6,500 National Guardsmen, 26 helicopters, over 500 high-water vehicles and just over a dozen watercraft from 12 separate states are mobilized to participate in a response and recovery mission following the damage inflicted by Hurricane Milton, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder told the media.

Ryder added that approximately 250 people are providing support with debris control, temporary roof support, waterway clearance, flood control and more.

Other relief efforts include U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Army North having active duty forces and capabilities from multiple military installations throughout the region standing by to support FEMA when requested, Ryder said.

DOD also took precautions to evacuate some military facilities ahead of the hurricane's arrival, including U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command from MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.

Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion conduct flight operations during Hurricane Milton Response Throughout the western coast of Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. Guardsmen Provided air capabilities in support...
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion conduct flight operations during Hurricane Milton Response Throughout the western coast of Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. Guardsmen Provided air capabilities in support of search and rescue missions following the storm's landfall. Thousands of Florida Guardsmen were joined by other National Guard components from other states during this large-scale disaster response. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Neysa Huertas Quinones) VIEW ORIGINAL
Florida Army National Guard Soldiers (FLARNG) from the 753rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, begin clearing debris and help to restore communities after Hurricane Milton in Pass-a-Grille, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024....
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard Soldiers (FLARNG) from the 753rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, begin clearing debris and help to restore communities after Hurricane Milton in Pass-a-Grille, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. FLARNG Soldiers and Airmen are positioned around the state and will be responding to missions that include search and rescue, law enforcement support, humanitarian assistance and more. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Madeline Fortune) VIEW ORIGINAL
Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG) Soldiers with HHB, 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, help deploy a flood mitigation device to protect a hospital from flooding in Sanford, Florida, Oct. 8, 2024. The FLARNG has made proactive efforts to team...
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG) Soldiers with HHB, 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, help deploy a flood mitigation device to protect a hospital from flooding in Sanford, Florida, Oct. 8, 2024. The FLARNG has made proactive efforts to team with civilian agencies across the state to make preparations prior to the hurricanes landfall. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marc Morgenstern) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Marc Morgenstern) VIEW ORIGINAL

"As you know, Hurricane Milton impacted Florida as a Category 3 storm, and DOD took appropriate precautions in advance for our facilities in Florida to ensure the safety of our personnel, their families and equipment," Ryder said, adding that both commands continue to operate out of multiple alternative locations and that those who evacuated will be able to return to MacDill once it's safe.

"The priority is the safety of personnel and their families and ensuring they have the resources they need as they recover from Hurricane Milton," Ryder said.

In turning to relief efforts in the Hurricane Helene-affected state of North Carolina, Ryder said the Federal Government's combined relief efforts are ongoing.

"The National Guard has approximately 5,000 guardsmen, 80 high-water vehicles and 50 helicopters from 17 states mobilized. More than 1,500 active duty members are deployed to North Carolina as well, working with federal, state and local partners on the coordinated response effort," Ryder said.

Those active duty personnel have been engaged in road clearing and the distribution of food, water and other commodities.

Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, conduct a Survey and Assist patrol following Hurricane Milton in Kissimmee, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. The Florida National Guard ensures the safety and...
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment, conduct a Survey and Assist patrol following Hurricane Milton in Kissimmee, Florida, Oct. 10, 2024. The Florida National Guard ensures the safety and well-being of residents in affected areas. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marc Morgenstern) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Marc Morgenstern) VIEW ORIGINAL
Cobra Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment aides with supply distribution at the Black Mountain Distribution Center in western NC on Oct. 10, 2024. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is providing assistance to residents and...
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Cobra Company, 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment aides with supply distribution at the Black Mountain Distribution Center in western NC on Oct. 10, 2024. The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) is providing assistance to residents and businesses across western N.C. in the wake of Hurricane Helene. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Master Sgt. Anthony Hewitt) VIEW ORIGINAL
Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1448th Chemical Company assist in high-water rescue missions in Seminole County, Oct. 10, 2024. The Florida National Guard remains committed to ensuring the safety of residents in the most affected areas.
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Florida Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1448th Chemical Company assist in high-water rescue missions in Seminole County, Oct. 10, 2024. The Florida National Guard remains committed to ensuring the safety of residents in the most affected areas. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Maj. James Suber) VIEW ORIGINAL

Ryder added, "In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has more than 550 personnel mobilized to 14 emergency operations centers across the region; supporting debris control, temporary power infrastructure assessment, flood control and safe waterways assessment."

Meanwhile in Washington, Ryder said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has been receiving daily updates on the response efforts and that he held meetings yesterday and today with several high-level Defense Department officials.

Meeting attendees included Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Navy Adm. Christopher W. Grady, Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot Northcom commander and other senior officials, Ryder said.

Additionally, Ryder said Austin, Hicks and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., attended President Joe Biden's meeting at the White House today with Vice President Kamala Harris and other senior government officials to discuss the relief efforts.

"The department will continue to work closely with our federal, state and local partners to ensure we are doing everything we can to support and coordinate the ongoing disaster response efforts to aid our fellow Americans impacted by these devastating storms," Ryder said, adding that DOD will continue to keep the media updated on additional DOD relief efforts for both hurricanes.