While the U.S. Army is sending hundreds of soldiers from Fort Campbell to provide assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, nearly as many Tennessee National Guardsmen are continuing to support first responders amid cleanup and recovery efforts.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — While the U.S. Army is sending hundreds of soldiers from Fort Campbell to provide assistance in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, nearly as many Tennessee National Guardsmen are continuing to support first responders amid cleanup and recovery efforts.
The Army’s 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) announced that more than 500 of its soldiers were departing Fort Campbell on Saturday, Oct. 5 in order to help with Helene response efforts led by the North Carolina National Guard and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
According to officials, the soldiers — described as part of Task Force Falcon — are equipped with more 60 all-terrain vehicles and trained to perform various tasks that civilian authorities might request, including search and rescue, medical aid, route assessment and clearance, traffic control, warehouse management, supply distribution, debris removal, general transportation, and equipment maintenance.
“We are proud to support this effort and help American citizens in times of need,” said Lt. Col. Walt Gray, Task Force Falcon commander. “Our training prepares us to respond quickly in challenging situations, and this mission highlights the importance of that preparation.”
In addition, the division said it is sending more than 15 utility and cargo helicopters and crews for personnel and logistics movement.
“The Wings of Destiny brigade is proud to have been called upon to provide support to the citizens that have been impacted by Hurricane Helene,” said Col. Tyler Partridge, 101st Combat Aviation Brigade commander. “Our aircrew members train every day to be ready for any mission and always stand ready to support our fellow Americans.”
Officials said the Department of Defense will continue to coordinate recovery efforts with FEMA, as well as federal, state, and local partners.
Meanwhile, the Tennessee Military Department said more than 450 soldiers and airmen from the Tennessee National Guard are still supporting state and local first responders in the eastern part of the Volunteer State, which has multiple areas impacted by severe flooding following Helene.
According to officials, these guardsmen are providing 24-hour ground and aerial rescue and relief support to those in need, with their efforts mainly focused on Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties.
The military said members of the Tennessee National Guard — who are organized into three task forces — are performing aviation and ground search and rescue; debris clearance; reconnaissance; logistics management; transportation of critical supplies; and distribution of food, water, and other necessities:
Task Force Aviation — featuring flight crews from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, based at Knoxville’s Joint Base McGhee-Tyson and Nashville’s Berry Field — has been flying search and rescue missions with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters since the flooding began. Members of this task force have rescued more than 100 citizens; transported more than 275 rescue and support personnel to needed areas; airlifted more than 107,000 pounds of drinking water, food, medicine, and other perishables to people whose access cut off due to destroyed bridges and damaged roads, as well as generators, diapers, dogfood, hay, and other needed items; and performed 15 reconnaissance flights to survey dams, bridges, roadways, and other critical infrastructure to begin repairs.
Joint Task Force Castle is comprised of more than 220 engineers from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion, Knoxville’s 134th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nashville’s 118th Civil Engineering Squadron, and Memphis’ 164th Airlift Wing. Members are using bulldozers, dump trucks, chainsaws, skid steer loaders, and other equipment to clear roads and other critical locations so emergency managers can improve services to affected areas. The task force is divided into debris clearance teams, with each team deploying to an area, determined by the county emergency managers, and removing wreckage caused by the floods. They have already removed more than 400 truckloads — or nearly 4,000 tons — of debris.
Joint Task Force Transportation was organized by guardsmen from Johnson City’s 176th Combat Service Support Battalion, who have used more than 30 medium and light medium tactical vehicles to transport personnel and supplies in and out of impacted areas. Since each vehicle can move between 2.5 and 5 tons of supplies and personnel, task force members have delivered more than 70,000 pounds of supplies to five counties, in addition to conducting wellness checks to ensure citizen safety. Guardsmen have also been supplying and working in eight distribution centers; delivered nine, 400-gallon water buffalos to be used for showers and latrines; and been operating a tactical water purification system with three extra 2,000-gallon and one 900-gallon water storage system.
Officials said all of these missions are being coordinated through the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center (JEOC), which was established before Helene made landfall. The JEOC operates continuously to manage the National Guard’s response, communicate with partner agencies, and quickly deploy emergency response assets requested through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).
This news comes after the Associated Press reported the death toll from the hurricane increased to 227 across six states. At least 11 of those deaths are from Tennessee, according to TEMA.