HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Wolf has announced that more than 25 Pennsylvania National Guard members and six Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rescue technicians, along with two UH-60 Black Hawks and two CH-47 Chinook helicopters, left from Fort Indiantown Gap and Johnstown, en route to McEntire Joint National Guard Base, near Columbia, S.C. to assist with a response to Hurricane Florence.
“I am incredibly proud our National Guard members and the Fish and Boat Commission personnel for their readiness and willingness to assist where needed – in Pennsylvania and in other parts of the U.S. during difficult times,” Wolf said.
“While we continue to help those in Pennsylvania affected by recent flooding, we also are thinking of our fellow citizens in North and South Carolina as they prepare for Hurricane Florence.
“I want everyone to know that Pennsylvania is with them, wishing safe passage through this storm.”
The National Guard aircraft and crew will integrate with thousands of National Guard members and first responders who are prepositioning assets and supplies to be used in the response to Hurricane Florence.
The Fish and Boat Commission technicians are trained members of the PA Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, or PA-HART. The team deployed with one rescue truck and trailer containing a cache of rescue support equipment, including inflatable boats.
The Pennsylvania National Guard responded to hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017.
