As Hurricane Florence battered the Carolinas last week, the U.S. military prepped for the aftermath of the deadly storm by forward deploying troops and supplies.
As of Sunday, the Army had committed 13,000 soldiers to provide search and rescue, supply distribution, and other emergency relief services for the affected areas, an Army spokesman told Task & Purpose on Monday. They’re backed up by more than 90 rotary wing aircraft from Army, Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Reserve units and 3,000 Army High Water Vehicles.
Below are a collection of photos of the impact area, and troops in action.
Flooding in North and South Carolina has resulted in many residents requesting assistance to evacuate from flooded homes and vehicles
Marines with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune help push a car out of a flooded area during Hurricane Florence, on Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Sept. 15, 2018.Lance Cpl. Isaiah Gomez
USCG shallow-water response boat team in action.U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic
Members of Coast Guard Shallow-Water Response Boat Team 3 help pets stranded by floodwater caused by Hurricane Florence near Riegelwood, North Carolina, Sept. 16, 2018.US Coast Guard
As of Monday the 17th, the death toll of the storm as reported by NPR is at 23 confirmed dead as a result of Hurricane Florence
USCG Mid-Atlantic photo of a rescue in North Carolina.U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Air and Marine Operations (AMO), Tuscon flight crew from departs from TAC Air field in Raleigh N.C. to execute search and rescue missions as well as damage assessments. September 16, 2018Jaime Rodriguez Sr.
Due to the flooding, Wilmington, NC, a town of 115,000 is temporarily cut off from the mainland. Food and water are being airlifted in for stranded residents
An MH-60S Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Island Knights of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25 prepares to deliver supplies from the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Rappahannock during a replenishment at sea.Petty Officer 3rd Class Juan Pinale
Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River are in Tropical Cyclone Condition One Recovery
An MH-60T Jayhawk Helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, evacuates residents from Rocky Point, North CarolinaDustin Williams
Some have it easier than others
U.S. Marines with Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training conduct post-hurricane cleanup at the Marine Corps Exchange on Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C., Sept. 16, 2018.Lance Cpl. Damaris Arias