Georgia Army National Guardsmen assigned to the Toccoa-based 863rd Engineer Utility Detachment (Construction) and the Augusta-based 878th Engineer Company, along with members of the Georgia State Defense Force assist local authorities in providing food and tarps to the victims of Hurricane Michael in Albany, Ga.
Different from Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael came fast and furiously into the Florida Panhandle as a Category 4 storm. It did not linger, but moved quickly, ravaging the land over which it passed. Hurricane Michael made landfall between St. Vincent Island and Panama City, Florida, early in the afternoon of Oct. 10, 2018. With winds reaching 155 mph – just 2 mph shy of a Category 5 hurricane, the highest possible hurricane classification – Hurricane Michael was the strongest hurricane to come ashore along the Florida Panhandle going back over 150 years.
Over 3,700 Soldiers and Airmen were mobilized in response to Hurricane Michael – with over 1,000 being mobilized prior to landfall. Service members included 148 personnel from eight States – Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York and Ohio.
All combined, the out-of-State units brought five Chinook choppers, six Black Hawk choppers and 36 tactical vehicles for use in the response effort. Operations included search-and-rescue, boat teams, transportation, logistical support and aviation support.
Florida National Guard’s Dual Status Commander BG Rafael Ribas spoke about his directive to Soldiers to keep the essentials properly prioritized as they approached the disaster response.
