MEMPHIS, Tenn. — More than 450 Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard are actively engaged in relief efforts in East Tennessee, assisting state, county, and local first responders in areas severely impacted by flooding from Hurricane Helene.
These guardsmen are currently providing 24-hour, ground and aerial rescue and relief support to those in need with efforts focused primarily on Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties. The National Guard has organized personnel into three task forces, focusing on ground and aerial rescue missions, debris clearance, reconnaissance, logistics management, and the distribution of essential supplies, including food and water.
Aerial Support and Rescue Operations
Task Force Aviation, consisting of flight crews from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion based at Knoxville’s Joint Base McGhee-Tyson and Nashville’s Berry Field, has been conducting search and rescue missions using UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters since the onset of flooding. They have already rescued over 100 people and taken more than 275 rescue and support personnel to affected areas. In total, they have airlifted more than 107,000 pounds of critical supplies, including drinking water, food, and medicine, to residents isolated due to damaged infrastructure. The crews have also airlifted generators and other essential items, and have conducted 15 reconnaissance flights to assess the condition of dams, bridges, and roadways.
Ground Operations and Debris Clearance
Joint Task Force Castle comprises over 220 engineers from various units, including the 230th Engineer Battalion and the 134th Civil Engineer Squadron. They are using heavy equipment such as bulldozers and dump trucks to clear roads and critical locations, enabling emergency services to operate more effectively. So far, these teams have removed over 400 truckloads, nearly 4,000 tons, of debris.
Transportation and Logistics Support
Guardsmen from the 176th Combat Service Support Battalion have established Joint Task Force Transportation, using more than 30 tactical vehicles to take personnel and supplies in and out of affected areas. These vehicles have delivered over 70,000 pounds of supplies across five counties and are conducting wellness checks to ensure resident safety. Additionally, they are supporting eight distribution centers, have delivered nine 400-gallon water buffalos for sanitation purposes, and are operating a Tactical Water Purification System along with additional water storage systems.
All operations are coordinated through the Tennessee Military Department’s Joint Emergency Operations Center (JEOC), which was activated prior to Hurricane Helene's landfall. The JEOC facilitates the management of National Guard resources, communication with partner agencies, and the rapid deployment of emergency response assets requested through the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency.
