Archive image: US Army soldier assigned to the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, Tennessee Army National Guard, runs to his UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter at the beginning of Pre-accident Plan Rehearsal for Northern Strike 22 at Reaper Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP) on Grayling Army Airfield, Grayling, Mich., Aug. 6, 2022.
Tennessee Army National Guard photo by PFC. Erich Holbrook.
Story by Lt. Col. Darrin Haas, Tennessee National Guard
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard continues its support of emergency first responders assisting areas impacted by severe flooding following the landfall of Hurricane Helene.
Working with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, guardsmen are providing 24-hour, ground and aerial rescue support to those in need. Since flooding began, servicemembers from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion, based at Knoxville’s Joint Base McGhee-Tyson, have been flying rescue missions throughout the devastated areas. On Friday, three UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters performed nearly 60 aerial rescues of Tennesseans trapped by floodwaters, including hospital staff and patients at Unicoi County Hospital.
Members of Smyrna’s 45th Civil Support Team, who are certified swift water rescue technicians, deployed to East Tennessee to assist with rescue operations and four Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, from Johnson City’s 176th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, supported water rescue missions in Carter County. LMTVs are vehicles with high ground clearance able to traverse flooded areas and assist in rescue operations.
On Saturday, seven UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters from Knoxville and Nashville’s Berry Field continued search and rescue (SAR) missions in East Tennessee, saving nearly 15 citizens as well as performing critical missions like dam and bridge assessments, damaged area surveys, and transporting critical supplies. They are also working with Nashville Fire Department as part of Tennessee’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to assist those in need. Today, these aviators are continuing rescue and relief operations throughout the affected areas.
These missions are all being coordinated through the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center, which was stood up prior to 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 assts. Today, they deployed a debris removal team, comprised of more than 50 engineering specialists from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion and Knoxville’s 134th Air Refueling Wing, to East Tennessee to assist restoring critical infrastructure.
The Tennessee National Guard is continuing rescue and relief efforts and will continue as long as needed. If someone needs assistance, please contact your local authorities. To report a missing person in the affected area, call the TBI FIND line at 1-800-TBI-FIND / 1-1800-824-3463.
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