Raleigh, N.C. – 2,500 Soldiers and Airmen are now working in the Western North Carolina area with an approximately 1,000 more on their way Oct. 6, 2024. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different 82nd Airborne units from Ft. Liberty, a unit coming from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to the citizens in western North Carolina.
“JTF- NC is equipped with some of the most skilled Soldiers and Airmen that we can bring to the table,” said Col. Paul Hollenack, the assistant dual status commander for JTF-NC. “We are still searching for the lost using air and ground assets, we are delivering meals, water, and life-sustaining commodities, and we are clearing roadways so we can get commodities to people as fast as possible.”
The task force has equipped the Soldiers and Airmen with specialized vehicles, such as the use of a C-17 from the NC Air National Guard, more than 20 C-47 Chinook Helicopters, and several ranger utility vehicles to help in the effort. These pieces of equipment rarely see real world use in North Carolina, but they are now being used daily.
“Unprecedented times, call for an unprecedented response,” said Brig. Gen. Wes Morrison, the dual status commander for JTF- NC. “We are going to use everything that we can to assist every person we can, until the job is done.”
Currently, JTF-NC is working 24-hours a day to close some of the ongoing gaps in relief caused by Helene. The task of helping the people of western North Carolina return to some sense of normalcy is going to be enduring, but JTF-NC’s specialized units will continue to be a benefit.
“We understand this is not a sprint,” said Hollenack. “This is a marathon, and we just want everyone to know that we were here before the storm, we were here during the storm, and we will be here long after the storm.”
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Photos and Videos:
Tropical Storm Helene Response | Flickr
DVIDS - NC National Guard Responds to Tropical Storm Helene (dvidshub.net)