National Guard staged for Florida hurricane response

By National Guard BureauSeptember 28, 2022

Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ponder, a Soldier in the Florida National Guard, reviews the latest updates concerning Hurricane Ian's arrival and potential impact to Florida, while stationed at the Joint Operations Center, Sept. 26, 2022. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered approximately 5,000 troops to state active duty, staging them in armories across the state in preparation to respond to Hurricane Ian after it makes landfall.
Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ponder, a Soldier in the Florida National Guard, reviews the latest updates concerning Hurricane Ian's arrival and potential impact to Florida, while stationed at the Joint Operations Center, Sept. 26, 2022. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered approximately 5,000 troops to state active duty, staging them in armories across the state in preparation to respond to Hurricane Ian after it makes landfall. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Christopher Vann) VIEW ORIGINAL

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Some 5,000 Florida National Guard troops stood ready Wednesday to assist residents in the wake of Hurricane Ian, a massive storm making landfall in heavily populated southwest Florida.

Florida Guard members and equipment were staged at armories and bases, with another 2,000 Guardsmen from Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina activated and ready to assist if needed.

The Guard was standing by with 16 helicopters, 1,640 high-wheeled vehicles, seven boats, 36 fuel tankers and generators to conduct search and rescue operations, clear roads and support law enforcement. Florida Army National Guard’s 146th Signal Battalion was setting up a satellite system to provide voice, video and data communications in case of infrastructure damage. Guard members also were prepared to give out food and water at multiple distribution points.

"Florida Guardsmen will be providing emergency assistance to safeguard people and property alongside other first responders," said Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert, Florida adjutant general.

Florida National Guard Soldiers with the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion completed training on the Tiger Dam system. This system is a water filled bladder capable of diverting flood waters within minutes.
Florida National Guard Soldiers with the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion completed training on the Tiger Dam system. This system is a water filled bladder capable of diverting flood waters within minutes. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Florida National Guard) VIEW ORIGINAL

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said the Guard would respond as quickly as possible.

"We want to save as many lives as possible and really mitigate any suffering as quickly as possible," he said in an interview with The Weather Channel Sept. 27. "And so this is primarily where our assets and high-water vehicles can really get in there and control those areas where people might be trapped or in danger to try to get them to safety as quickly as possible."

Hurricane Ian was to make landfall Wednesday afternoon as a Category 4 or 5 storm, with winds recorded at 155 mph. Weather officials predicted catastrophic storm surges, rain and flooding along Florida's west coast.

Hokanson urged Florida residents to follow the guidance of local officials.

"The biggest thing we're worried about is people following their local guidance so we can reduce the number of victims," he said. "Our focus is saving lives and get people out of situations that may be potentially life-threatening."

U.S. Army Pfc. Kenneth Bonn, a combat engineer with the 753rd Engineering Brigade, conducts a pre mission inspection on a search and rescue vessel during Hurricane Ian state activation, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla, Sept. 27, 2022. Bonn is an attached component of the Florida National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) - Enhanced Response Force Package (FL-CERFP). Members of this team are mobilized in order to provide search and rescue capabilities during natural disasters and other emergencies.
U.S. Army Pfc. Kenneth Bonn, a combat engineer with the 753rd Engineering Brigade, conducts a pre mission inspection on a search and rescue vessel during Hurricane Ian state activation, Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla, Sept. 27, 2022. Bonn is an attached component of the Florida National Guard's Chemical, Biological, Radiological/Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) - Enhanced Response Force Package (FL-CERFP). Members of this team are mobilized in order to provide search and rescue capabilities during natural disasters and other emergencies. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Victor Mejia-Jeronimo) VIEW ORIGINAL

Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, Pentagon press secretary, said Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama; Moody Air Force Base, Warner-Robins Air Force Base and Marine Corps Logistics Base–Albany — all in Georgia — would serve as federal staging areas to provide logistics support to disaster areas if needed.

Ryder said the hurricane was unlikely to affect operations at the headquarters for U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Central Command in Tampa.

"Hurricanes hitting the state of Florida are not new," Ryder said at a Pentagon briefing. "There are very comprehensive contingency plans that are put together to address these types of eventualities to ensure that there's 24/7 connectivity and command and control capability. The bottom line is neither of those commands will miss a beat regardless of whether the storm hits in the Tampa area or not."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Florida Sept. 24. The declaration authorized FEMA to support the state's response efforts ahead of the hurricane.

The Florida National Guard and C. Todd Lopez, DOD News, contributed to this story

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