Pa. Guard consolidates at Myrtle Beach

Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard
Story by Capt. Travis Mueller

Date: 09.24.2018
Posted: 09.24.2018 13:17
News ID: 294166
Pa. Guard consolidates at Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard task force in South Carolina consolidated and moved their base of operations to Myrtle Beach International Airport here, Sept. 23, 2018.

Part of the Pa. Guard task force, including their partners in the Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, was staged at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina. They, as well as a UH-60 Black Hawk and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, flew here Sunday to prepare for search and rescue, transportation, damage assessment and other missions closer to anticipated flooding in the region.

The other part of the Pa. Guard task force has been staged at Myrtle Beach International Airport since Sept. 18.

“Staging all our personnel and helicopters at Myrtle Beach International Airport puts us in a more advantageous position,” said Maj. Trevor Patrick, officer-in-charge of the Pa. Guard task force in South Carolina. “We’re able to respond to emergencies in this area and be on the scene quicker from here than if we were still staged at McEntire.”

Citizens in South Carolina are reminded to heed warnings of local officials, as they expect flood levels to continue to rise in certain areas this week.

All Pennsylvania National Guard helicopter crews and PA-HART members in South Carolina stand ready to assist the populace and complete further assignments as directed by local authorities.