UH-60 and CH-47 aircraft with the 1-111th Florida Army National Guard land in Tallahassee, Florida, for refueling September 27 as they continue search and rescue operations throughout the impacted area after Hurricane Helene. [Courtesy: U.S. National Guard]
Key Takeaways:
National Guard units from across the U.S. have deployed over 5,500 personnel, along with numerous vehicles and aircraft, to assist 11 states, with a significant focus on North Carolina, in response to Tropical Storm Helene.
The North Carolina National Guard is actively delivering over 100,000 pounds of FEMA supplies and conducting hoist and emergency aviation operations to reach flood-ravaged areas like Western NC and Asheville, where roads are impassable.
Civilian organization Operation Airdrop is complementing these efforts, mobilizing approximately 2,000 volunteer pilots and aircraft to transport essential supplies, including nonperishable food, hygiene items, and baby products, to affected communities.
National Guard units from all over the U.S. are heading to North Carolina to assist victims of Tropical Storm Helene.
The North Carolina National Guard said it had deployed more than 200 vehicles and aircraft, “including hoist and emergency aviation assets,” along with more than 500 soldiers and airmen in the state.
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Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
