The Michigan Army National Guard has mobilized six personnel from the Grand Ledge-based, C Company, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion and a HH60M Blackhawk helicopter to support relief efforts following the devastation and flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.
“It’s about helping our neighbors during their great time of need,” said Maj. Gen. Greg Vadnais, adjutant general of the Michigan National Guard who served as the commander of Joint Task Force Mississippi and the 38th Infantry Division during the national response to Hurricane Katrina.
“It’s critical that we leverage the lessons from Katrina -- particularly the importance of state and federal interagency coordination -- and the essential prioritization of resources. Once National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are in place, their wide range of disaster response skill, experience, and training will make a difference in the overall response effort. In every state, the National Guard is integrated into state emergency response plans and we stand ready to support emergency responders to help save lives, prevent injury, and mitigate destruction of property.”
The unique helicopter and advanced-skills crew departed from the Grand Ledge, Army Aviation Support Facility to land at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base in Tennessee to receive additional mission information and instructions. The crew is expected to provide aerial support and logistical movement of personnel and equipment, as well as hoist rescue capability, a specialty feature of the HH60M that includes an integrated MEDEVEC Mission Equipment Package kit, providing day/night and adverse weather emergency evacuation capability.