Pennsylvania National Guard helicopter crews along with Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (PA-HART) members from the Fish and Boat Commission recently returned from South Carolina where they spent more than two weeks assisting the South Carolina National Guard and local emergency responders with flood relief efforts after Hurricane Florence.

“The Pennsylvania National Guard combined with the Fish and Boat Commission rescue teams once again to provide critical support to our neighbors in other states during yet another record storm in Hurricane Florence,” said Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general and head of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “We were very proud to combine forces with other National Guard units and community agencies to help save and protect South Carolina residents.”

The crews flew two CH-47 Chinook helicopters and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters completing 22 missions as assigned by local authorities. A total of 28 PNG and eight PA-HART members supported the missions.

The Pennsylvania teams were some of the first to arrive in South Carolina and participated in early rescue operations to assist evacuations of local citizens to safe areas where medical attention could be provided.

The crews were also called on to identify damaged infrastructure; ensure flooded roadways were barricaded; determine areas prone to future flooding; transport emergency supplies; and fly life-saving and communications equipment to various locations throughout South Carolina.

“This has been a particularly busy summer for the PNG supporting numerous commonwealth and national flood operations,” said Carrelli. “We have tremendous professionals in our Guard who continue to answer the call to help others in our own communities and throughout the United States.”

(Photo: PA National Guard rescues 2 South Carolina Flood victims.)

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[Posted: Oct. 12, 2018]

10/15/2018