Soldiers and airmen from the Tennessee National Guard continue supporting state, county, and local first responders in East Tennessee areas impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane Helene

Chattanooga, TN – According to the state officials, focused primarily on Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties, more than 450 guardsmen are providing 24-hour ground and aerial rescue and relief support. They have organized into three task forces and are conducting search and rescue missions, clearing debris, performing reconnaissance, managing logistics, and distributing critical supplies such as food and water.

Task Force Aviation, composed 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 flying search and rescue missions with UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters since the flooding began. The team has rescued over 100 citizens and transported more than 275 rescue and support personnel.

They have airlifted over 107,000 pounds of supplies, including water, food, medicine, and other essentials to areas isolated by destroyed bridges and damaged roads, as well as generators, diapers, dog food, and hay. Flight crews have also conducted 15 reconnaissance flights to survey critical infrastructure like dams, bridges, and roadways in need of repair.

Joint Task Force Castle, consisting of over 220 engineers from Trenton’s 230th Engineer Battalion, Knoxville’s 134th Civil Engineer Squadron, Nashville’s 118th Civil Engineering Squadron, and Memphis’ 164th Airlift Wing, is working to clear roads and other vital areas using bulldozers, dump trucks, chainsaws, and skid steer loaders. So far, they have removed more than 400 truckloads, totaling nearly 4,000 tons of debris, to help emergency managers restore services to the affected areas.