BRIDGEPORT, W.Va (WDTV) – Governor Jim Justice has activated the West Virginia National Guard to aid in recovery efforts for Hurricane Helene.
Crews will deploy to the Carolinas to assist local agencies.
Twelve Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing, including a Fatality Search and Recovery Team and a chaplain, will deploy to North Carolina to assist in ongoing search and rescue operations.
Additionally, 30 troops will head to South Carolina to support reconstruction and debris cleanup efforts as the state begins to rebuild.
Officials said Helene has claimed more than 100 deaths so far, and many more people remain missing.
Busick, North Carolina, a remote town near Mount Mitchell State Park, received 30.78 inches of rain as a result of Helene — a record for the highest rainfall in the Appalachians from any tropical weather system, officials said.
Millions of residents are still without power, as well.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the destruction our neighboring states are facing,” Justice said. “The West Virginia National Guard is running to the fire without hesitation, as we always do. That’s what we do in West Virginia– we pull the rope together. I’m proud we can join forces with other states to support North Carolina and South Carolina in their recovery efforts. My thoughts and prayers are with our brave service members, all the first responders in the area, and everyone affected by Hurricane Helene. Let’s continue to take care of each other.”
West Virginia National Guard assistance was formally requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, or EMAC process. EMAC is a mutual aid agreement among states and territories of the United States that enables states to share resources during natural and man-made disasters, complementing the national disaster response system.“When our neighboring states call, we will always be there to answer that call,” Maj. Gen Bill Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, said. “The level of devastation we are seeing across our news feeds is beyond belief, and we know that both the citizens and the first responders in the impacted areas are in desperate need of help. With the strong support of Governor Justice, we are ready to provide any and all assistance we can render.”
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