PALMETTO, Fla. – Forty-three New York Army National Guard Soldiers spent a week assisting the Florida National Guard’s response to Hurricane Milton.
The Soldiers helped clear debris and set up fuel and emergency supply distribution sites in Parrish and Bradenton, south of Tampa, Oct. 9-15.
“We had an extremely motivated group,” said 1st Lt. Ivelisse Velazquez, a personnel officer assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, who led the team.
“Everyone wanted to come down here and get to work and help out wherever they could, and it was really great seeing that motivation,” Velazquez said.
The mission kicked off Oct. 9 when 41 volunteers from New York’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, supported by two personnel from the 53rd Troop Command, flew out of Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse with 10 Humvees.
The Soldiers loaded the vehicles on two C-17 Globemaster IIIs operated by the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing.
Many of the Soldiers found out about the mission just a few hours before arriving at the airfield.
“Honestly, we didn’t know what to expect. We didn’t know where we were gonna go,” said Staff Sgt. Kevin Morales-Roldon, a section sergeant assigned to the 152nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 427th Brigade Support Battalion.
“This is what we do — this is the National Guard — the reason why we have this, and it's always great for everyone to be ready just in case that call comes,” said Morales-Roldon.
The Soldiers staged at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center in Starke, Florida, where Air and Army National Guard units from across the county waited for the hurricane to pass.
The New York Army National Guard contingent convoyed south to Palmetto Oct. 11 and spent the afternoon clearing downed trees.
“As we got closer, you did get to see a little bit more of what the effects of the hurricane were, and it was definitely a lot of damage, and I think it makes you feel like you want to help even more,” said Spc. Emily Burdick, a motor transport operator assigned to the 427th Brigade Support Battalion.
Early the next day, the team divided into two groups, each responsible for setting up and managing a distribution site in Parrish and Bradenton, where locals could drive through and pick up provisions.
In just a few hours, the sites were up and running.
“When we got there, we got the trucks open and had to bring a lot of the resources down by hand — tarps, meals and cases of water,” said Burdick.
“We got to work, and people showed up, and we started handing them out and making sure that they knew that there was a friendly face and that we were here to help them,” she added.
“In the wake of everything, I was glad that we could bring a sense of calm to people,” said Spc. Shane Bierk, a cavalry scout assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment.
For many on the mission, including Bierk, it was their first time serving in state active duty and representing the Guard outside New York.
“I did feel like we brought a sense of real peace to the community at a time of emergency — they enjoyed us being here,” said Bierk.
In less than 12 hours, the Soldiers handed out about 1,540 boxes of emergency rations, 1,800 cases of water and 1,200 tarps and helped refuel 310 vehicles.
Due to an overwhelming Guard response of over 7,000 personnel and damage from the storm being lighter than expected, the team was recalled back to Blanding Oct. 13 to prepare to return to New York.
The Soldiers were thankful the communities were on the road to recovery faster than anticipated.
“I understand that the Army's plans are always changing, and you never really know what to expect,” said Burdick. “By getting out here as fast as we did, and being able, even if it was just for one day, to see the people that came through to get resources smile a little bit and know that there were people here to help them — that was incredibly rewarding.”