“The unique thing about what we bring to the fight down there is we’ve got a wide variety of rescue skillsets that we hone for combat applications, and we’ll be bringing that level of expertise to work in conjunction with civil authorities”, he said.
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8 of 13 A Coast Guard rescue team evacuates people from a neighborhood inundated by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey on August 28, 2017, in Houston.
What inspires Kelly the most are the people going out to help their neighbors and strangers in this time of need. Sgt. Emerson Marcus with the Nevada Air National Guard. While Guard members make up most of the military force, U.S. Northern Command has postured over 1,000 active-duty personnel and equipment to provide support if needed.
“The increase in National Guard troops will ensure Texas has the necessary resources to respond to ongoing challenges from Hurricane Harvey”, Abbott said.
Air Force Major General James Witham said Wednesday that the Defense Department was raising its contribution to Hurricane Harvey, which has reportedly left up to nineteen people dead so far after making landfalls in populated areas. There are also six helicopters from the Utah, Nebraska and North Carolina army national guards.
About 3,000 of the Texas Guard had already been mobilized, along with about 500 from other states.
“As you talk response and recovery, our response is very sustained”, Witham said, adding that the storm’s unprecedented amount of rainfall has made for a different sort of hurricane response.
This additional deployment come days after the Governor pledged New York’s support to Texas and Louisiana and dispatched 104 Airmen along with three HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters, another HC-130 and several boats and watercraft.
The center is being used by the U.S. Coast Guard Crisis Action Team to help coordinate Harvey search and rescue efforts in Texas and Southwest Louisiana. “We will pray for the first responders, for those who have volunteered to help others”, he said.
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More than 3,500 people have been rescued, National Guard Bureau officials said.
