NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nearly 600 Tennessee National Guardsmen, with more than 150 vehicles and construction equipment, continue to support state, county and local first responders in East Tennessee areas impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane Helene.
These Soldiers and Airmen are providing 24-hour ground and aerial recovery support to those in need, primarily in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hawkins, Hamblen, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties.
Organized into three task forces, they are working with local emergency managers. The Tennessee Guard members are clearing debris, managing logistics, transporting and distributing critical supplies and conducting reconnaissance missions.
Task Force Aviation, made up of flight crews from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion based primarily in Knoxville, has been flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to rescue people and get relief to communities in need. They have rescued more than 100 people and transported 370 emergency personnel while airlifting over 125,000 pounds of drinking water, food, medicine, generators and other items to people isolated due to destroyed bridges and damaged roads. The Guardsmen have flown 16 reconnaissance flights to survey dams, bridges, roadways and other critical infrastructure.
Joint Task Force Castle, comprising engineers from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion, Knoxville’s 134th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nashville’s 118th Civil Engineering Squadron, and Memphis’ 164th Airlift Wing, are using bulldozers, dump trucks, chainsaws, skid steer loaders, and other equipment to clear roads and critical locations. Divided into debris clearance teams, each team deploys to a location determined by county emergency managers. They have removed more than 420 truckloads of debris and started rebuilding roads in Greene County.
Using Medium and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, Guardsmen from Johnson City’s 176th Combat Service Support Battalion have distributed over 100,000 pounds of supplies. They continue to distribute water and supplies in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi and Washington counties. They support eight distribution centers and have delivered nine 400-gallon water buffalos for showers and latrines. They are operating a Tactical Water Purification System, with three additional 2,000-gallon and one 900-gallon water storage systems. The Tactical Water Purification System began operating in Mountain City and supplies over 30,000 gallons of potable water to distribute to high-need communities.
The Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center is coordinating all these missions.