Gov. Kathy Hochul is deploying more than a dozen soldiers, three helicopters, and generators to assist those affected by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina and Georgia.
17 National Army Guard soldiers from Rochester’s Army Aviation Support Facility #2 will assist the North Carolina National Guard with “three CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters,” according to a written statement.
Meanwhile, the four 100-kilowatt generators will make their way to Macon, Georgia.
The generators will arrive on Monday via transportation provided by the highway authority and the Department of Transportation, according to the statement.
The United States Southeast wrestled Sunday with mounting death tolls, a lack of crucial supplies in isolated, flood-stricken areas, and extensive destruction of houses and property as the tragic toll of Hurricane Helene became clearer and officials warned of a lengthy and difficult recovery.
A North Carolina county that includes the mountain city of Asheville reported 30 deaths from the storm, bringing the total death toll to at least 84 across three states.
The storm disrupted life across the Southeast. Reports have also indicated deaths in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia.
“New York stands shoulder to shoulder with our neighbors in the south as we respond to the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene,” Hochul stated yesterday. “I am pleased with our dedicated soldiers who will provide critical resources, including helicopters and generators, to help with recovery work. In times of difficulty, we unite as a community, expressing the spirit of solidarity and resilience. We’re here to help everyone affected so no one has to face this alone.”
For seven to ten days, the soldiers and their aircraft will “be on the ground,” according to the statement.
This is not the unit’s first post-hurricane mission: “In October 2018, the same unit deployed two CH-47s and 11 personnel to Florida following Hurricane Michael.”
This is the second set of people and equipment being sent from the Empire State to North Carolina, following Hochul’s dispatch of “16 swift water rescue personnel, two canines, and emergency response equipment” on Wednesday. These persons are currently working with the Yancy County Emergency Management Office.
“At the direction of Governor Hochul, the men and women of the 42nd Infantry Division’s Combat Aviation Brigade quickly responded, in less than 24 hours, when the North Carolina National Guard asked for assistance for storm relief. Our soldiers responded by sending three CH-47 heavy lift helicopters and their crews and maintenance team. We are always ready and always there, be it in a combat zone, here at home in New York, or in another state. I am very proud of our service members who never fail to respond when called,” Major General Ray Shields said.
