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Press Release | Sept. 19, 2018

U.S. NORTHERN COMMAND PROVIDES VITAL MILITARY CAPABILTIIES

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo.  –  

Department of Defense personnel continue to respond to areas affected by the storm and the subsequent flooding.

"I think it’s important to highlight the storm response to date. It has been a great example of how the National Response Framework is supposed to work," said Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command. "There has been a strong local response from first responders all the way through to the state and their emergency operations centers. This is coupled with the strong National Guard response and then supported by FEMA and the broader federal response of which the Department of Defense is part of."

Due to ongoing flooding, there is currently concern for communities that are isolated due to roads being washed away or under water.

"[Flooding] is a primary concern and we’ve been working closely with both FEMA, state and local authorities," said O’Shaughnessy. "With the help of the [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers], we are able to model and try to predict where the worst flooding will occur and position supplies and equipment inside where those areas might be isolated and anticipate what those needs are."

Below is an updated summary of DOD support to FEMA, state and local partners as of September 17:

 The National Guard remain focused on life saving, search, rescue and relief, having rescued nearly 900 people in eastern North Carolina.

 On the evening of September 16, North Carolina National Guard transported cots and blankets provided by the Red Cross to multiple shelters for more than 300 people who have been displaced from their homes in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

 The North Carolina National Guard is supporting state emergency humanitarian aid deliveries to local fire departments to assist in hurricane relief efforts.

 The South Carolina National Guard's priority is supporting rescues and evacuations from flooded areas. The National Guard is utilizing high water vehicles and helicopters, in collaboration with the South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, to execute search and rescue operations.

 The South Carolina National Guard is supporting state flood mitigation efforts as rivers rise due to the high volume of rain that impacted North Carolina.

 The U.S. Navy ships, USS Kearsarge and USS Arlington, along with the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, are in position near Onslow Bay, N.C. They remain ready to support with ground and air assets to assist emergency response logistics, clear routes, or other tasks as required.

 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are employing a hydraulic sandbag filler in Horry County, S.C., which has the capacity to fill up to 500 sandbags per hour; enhancing flood relief efforts.

 USACE is supporting state inspections of dams throughout N.C. and S.C. and conducting assessments of federal ports in N.C. In Virginia, USACE is providing FEMA’s Task Force with dam safety subject matter experts and an individual for Geographic Information Systems.

 The U.S. Marine Corps have established refueling stations to support state and local emergency medical services vehicles and U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue operations.

 Defense Logistics Agency and FEMA personnel are relocating from Fort Bragg, N.C. to High Point, N.C. due to rising flood waters. However, they continue to deliver military rations to emergency service stations in areas affected by flooding.