In wake of Helene, National Guard soldiers who lost their homes still reporting for duty
National Guard officials said they are moving from Hurricane Helene search and rescue operations to logistics help and debris removal.
Patty Nieberg
Posted on Oct 3, 2024 5:49 PM EDT
Along Hurricane Helene’s path of devastation, National Guard officials said they are hearing that some of their own soldiers have lost their homes but are still reporting to call-ups to support local response efforts.
“There’s at least two in the state that I know have lost everything,” said Army Col. Paul Hollenack, a commander in the North Carolina National Guard. “We’re providing services and taking care of them.”
One of the soldiers, Hollenack said, was from his own home unit, the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, and was a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. The Guard soldier “lost everything, drove to Durham to his unit, volunteered for state active duty, has been on state active duty supporting his community for the last two days,” Hollenack said.
https://taskandpurpose.com/news/hurricane-helene-national-guard-response-efforts/