Last Updated on October 12, 2024 5:41 pm
*Click here for an online album of videos & photos from the National Guard*
Raleigh, N.C. – Joint Task Force – North Carolina currently has approximately 3,900 Soldiers and Airmen working in Western North Carolina, with about 2,200 coming from the North Carolina National Guard, a little over 200 from other state National Guards, and over 1500 joining from Title 10, Oct. 10, 2024. Some of the Soldiers and Airmen who have been on duty since September 26 are working with their replacements, hence the reason for the number uptick.
“The slight bump up in numbers is temporary,” said Col. Paul Hollenack, the deputy dual status commander for JTF-NC. “It is so we (JTF-NC) can seamlessly change Soldiers and Airmen out while maintaining continuity.”
Soldiers and Airmen continue to assist residents across Western North Carolina with a variety of different efforts. JTF- NC reassigned 44 Soldiers to Watauga County to assist with donation distribution efforts.
“JTF-NC in the last 24 to 48 hours shifted 140 people to Chimney Rock to help with the distribution of resources,” said Hollenack. “We (JTF-NC) assisted with a systematic search and recovery mission along a 10-mile stretch of the Ivory River in coordination with the Marshall Sheriff’s Office.”
Many people are still in need in Western North Carolina, but these numbers are lowering every day. This is a testament of the resilience of the people of North Carolina, the outpouring of assistance from the different communities, the combined efforts of JTF-NC, North Carolina Emergency Management and its first responder partners.
“More and more county leaders are letting us know that our (JTF-NC) services are no longer needed,” said Hollenack. “This means that our efforts are working.”
- Overall rescues 759 with 546 by Air.
- Distribution teams have delivered over 6,113 tons of commodities to affected areas.
- Forestry support teams have almost cleared 2,000 routes and over 1,125 obstacles to ensure aid delivery to remote areas.
- 13 National Guard Liaison Teams are staged in 14 affected counties alongside state and local Emergency Management response personnel.
