More than 6,200 National Guard troops respond to Hurricane Helene as millions still without power

Soldiers from the 2-116th Field Artillery Regiment pass out food and water to civilians in Perry, Fla., on Sept. 29, 2024. (Sgt. Jalen Thomas/U.S. Army)

More than 6,200 National Guard troops from a dozen states are responding the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which made landfall last week as a category 4 storm and has left more than 100 people dead. The active-duty military also is contributing to response and rescue efforts by providing personnel, equipment and access to its installations in the region as staging areas. Hurricane Helene hit Thursday in Florida’s Big Bend region with wind speeds up to 140 mph before storming across the southeast U.S. and dumping multiple feet of rain in some locations. In its wake, the hurricane destroyed infrastructure, created widespread flooding and cut off power to millions. At least 121 deaths in six states have been attributed to the storm, according to The Associated Press.

As of Monday morning, nearly 3,900 members of the Florida National Guard were working with hundreds of tactical vehicles and boats and 11 helicopters to perform emergency response missions in dozens of counties throughout the state, according state and military officials. Troops there have rescued 155 people and 56 animals, while also clearing 1,189 miles of roads. The Guard has distributed 178,404 water cases, 173,176 Meals, Ready to Eat, 2,304 bags of ice, and 7,911 tarps through 34 distributions locations. Other activations included about 1,500 Guard members in Georgia, nearly 600 in South Carolina, about 130 in Tennessee and nearly 50 in Virginia. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp spoke Monday about conditions in his state and some of the lives lost, including a firefighter responding to a call, and three separate instances where trees fell on homes. One falling tree took the life of a mother and her 1-month-old twin boys, he said.

Troops on Monday continued to help clear roads of debris and downed trees so that supplies and utility workers could reach remote areas, Georgia officials said. North Carolina was hit hard with flooding in the western region of the state. More than 700 Guard members were activated and received additional support from Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Ohio, New York, South Carolina and Florida, according to the Pentagon.

“Across the region, National Guardsmen are supporting state and local response efforts with warehousing support, high-water vehicles, law enforcement support, search and rescue, route clearance, evacuation support, boat rescues and more,” Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon’s deputy press secretary, said Monday.

North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Sunday that the state’s Guard was airlifting supplies to some of the hardest-hit portions of the state, including the city of Asheville, where the water system was compromised. “People are desperate for help — and we are pushing to get it to them. Please know that we are sending resources, and coordinating closely with local governments, first responders, state and federal partners, and volunteer organizations to help those impacted by this tragic storm,” Cooper said. “This is an unprecedented tragedy that requires an unprecedented response.” U.S. Northern Command, which is responsible for defense and civil-support missions, sent one unit to Nashville to offer support staff to local officials and another to Orlando to help with federal search-and-rescue coordination, the Pentagon said.