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NEWS | Oct. 8, 2016

South Carolina National Guard assists with life-saving mission during Hurricane Matthew

By Capt. Jessica Donnelly 108th Public Affairs Detachment

ADAMS RUN, S.C. - Soldiers with the South Carolina National Guard responded to a request from emergency services to assist with transportation to a 9-1-1 call in Adams Run, South Carolina, Oct. 8, 2016, as flood waters rise throughout the lowcountry restricting access to citizens who remain behind.

The Soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 118th Infantry Regiment were staged out of the Bees Ferry Fire Department when the request came in to transport emergency medical personnel to a citizen in need of medical attention whose house is surrounded by flood waters, explained U.S. Army Maj. Trae Redmond, 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) executive officer. A three-person team along with a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle (LMTV) was ready to respond when the call came in.

“Based on the floods from last year, Emergency Operations Centers prepositioned assets based on critical areas to increase responsiveness to calls for assistance,” Redmond said.

The Soldiers were able to transport the medical personnel to the patient to provide care and remove them from the high waters once the patient was in a stable condition.

Additional missions are being conducted along the coastal region of South Carolina to include the Myrtle Beach area where the 1st Battalion, 178th Field Artillery responded to a similar request.

The South Carolina National Guard has assets staged throughout the lowcountry and along the coast to respond to emergency situations during and after Hurricane Matthew, including vehicles that can transport medical personnel and other first responders through high-water areas and engineer assets to help clear debris in the aftermath.

“I am so proud of the Soldiers, what a privilege it is to be able to support the people of South Carolina,” said U.S. Army Col. Jeffrey Jones, 218th MEB commander. “What we have to continue to do is remain focused on responding visibly, quickly and meaningfully and that’s what we are doing.”

Approximately 2,300 South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have been activated since Oct. 4, 2016, to support the response to Hurricane Matthew after Gov. Nikki Haley declared a State of Emergency.

 

 

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