NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard is supporting the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and state, county and local first responders in the areas impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane Helene.
Tennessee Guardsmen were providing 24-hour, ground and aerial rescue and relief support. Since flooding began, service members from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, based at Knoxville’s Joint Base McGhee-Tyson and Nashville’s Berry Field, have rescued over 100 people, including 54 stranded by flooding at Unicoi County Hospital, transported over 34,000 pounds of drinking water, food, generators and other equipment to those in need. They also performed 11 reconnaissance missions surveying dams, bridges, roadways and other critical infrastructure to begin repairs. Today, these aviators are continuing rescue and relief operations throughout the affected counties.
“Our priority has been to rapidly deploy to the affected areas and assist emergency responders with rescue operations,” said Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s adjutant general. “We are working with local emergency management agencies through TEMA by providing forces and support wherever needed. Our Guardsmen are prepared to help with relief efforts for as long as we are needed to ensure the safety of our fellow Tennesseans.”
As of Oct. 1, more than 125 Tennessee Guardsmen were mobilized, with 50 engineers and 30 vehicles from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion and Knoxville’s 134th Air Refueling Wing were removing debris in Carter, Green, Unicoi and Washington counties. Staged in Johnson City, they used bulldozers, dump trucks, chainsaws, skid steer loaders and other equipment to clear roads and other critical areas. Another 50 engineers from West Tennessee were traveling to the area to assist.
Additionally, Task Force 176, comprised of Guardsmen from the 176th Combat Service Support Battalion, was in Johnson City using more than 30 Medium and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles to transport personnel and supplies in and out of the affected areas. These vehicles can transport 2.5 to 5 tons of supplies each. They also established a supply distribution center and delivered two 400-gallon water buffalos to be used for showers and latrines.
All these missions were being coordinated through the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center, which was set up before Hurricane Helene making landfall. The JEOC operates continuously to manage the response of National Guard forces, communicate with partner agencies, and rapidly deploy emergency response assets.