Up to 1,000 soldiers have been activated to help with relief efforts in western North Carolina, the White House said Wednesday. Many communities are still cut off after Helene brought catastrophic floods to the region last week.
The active-duty soldiers will join hundreds of members of the North Carolina National Guard already working in the area.
“These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina – they have the manpower and logistical capabilities to get this vital job done, and fast,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.
“Hurricane Helene has been a storm of historic proportion. My heart goes out to everyone who has experienced unthinkable loss. We are here for you – and we will stay here for as long as it takes.,” the president said.
The soldiers are part of the XVIII Airborne Corps based at Fort Liberty, North Carolina, and include members of the 82nd Airborne, according to the Department of Defense. The soldiers are expected to arrive in western North Carolina within 24 hours, the DOD said shortly before noon Wednesday.
“The task force includes a Forward Support Company with the necessary support structures (fuel, water, mechanics, etc.) to support FEMA in stabilizing critical lifelines and essential services for communities in North Carolina,” the DOD said in a statement.
“Their mission will include delivering support and commodities to impacted and isolated communities, assisting with supply point logistics at commodity staging locations, and removing debris from affected routes,” the DOD said.
Many residents in western North Carolina are still without power, water or cell phone service five days after the storm.
Flooding, mudslides and downed trees made many roads impassable in western North Carolina.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation reopened Interstate 40 East Tuesday, but is still working to clear and repair the smaller roads that people rely on to travel in the mountains.
