By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
More than 500 Fort Campbell soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) have been deployed to support the residents and affected counties devastated by Hurricane Helene in Western North Carolina.
These soldiers, part of Task Force Falcon, are closely working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to provide commodity distribution to local jurisdictions designated by FEMA, in close coordination with North Carolina officials. Additionally, soldiers are assisting in the clearance of emergency routes, and rotary wing aircraft have been deployed to the region.
They are equipped with over 60 all-terrain vehicles and are trained to perform various tasks as requested by civilian authorities. They also have deployed more than 15 utility and cargo helicopters and crews for personnel and logistics movement.
“We are proud to support this effort and help American citizens in times of need, said Lt. Col. Walt Gray, Task Force Falcon commander. “Our training prepares us to respond quickly in challenging situations, and this mission highlights the importance of that mission.
500 more soldiers based at Ft. Liberty in North Carolina, are joining those from the 101st. In addition, the Department of Defense (DoD), working closely with FEMA and at the request of North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, in close coordination with their Federal, state, and local partners, have moved another 500 troops with advanced technological assets to provide greater situational awareness on the ground. This brings the total of active-duty soldiers operating on the ground to approximately 1,500.
The National Guard has activated more than 6,100 Guardsmen, hundreds of high-water vehicles, and dozens of helicopters and rescue boats from 18 different states in State-Active-Duty status. These Guardsmen have been spearheading the response effort across the impacted region in support of their governors and communities, providing critical life-saving and life-sustaining support to the victims of this historic natural disaster.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has established 12 Emergency Operations Centers across the southeast, with three in North Carolina. The Army Corps of Engineers also has emergency power teams conducting assessments in North Carolina and Georgia as well as water/wastewater assessments, bridge and road inspections, and debris removal efforts in North Carolina and Florida.