Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Florida National Guard Engineers clear Hurricane Irma debris from Monroe County homes By  Staff Sgt. Carmen Fleischmann
                Florida National Guard
 KEY WEST, Fla. – On Sept. 25, Gov. Rick Scott activated a 400-Soldier task force, led by the newly formed 753rd Brigade Engineer Battalion, to conduct debris clearance and residential de-mucking for the residents of Monroe County. To date, the Soldiers have assisted with clearing 184 residences, and the task force has 177 residences slated for debris removal and de-mucking over the next several days. Prior to this humanitarian mission, the 753rd used their heavy equipment to clear U.S. 1 from Florida City to Key West within 24 hours of the storm passing in order to allow first responders and others access to the Keys. "We now have the unique opportunity to return and help these fellow Floridians take their first steps toward rebuilding and recovery," said 753rd BEB Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Betsy Evans. "This is what we signed up for and I'm extremely proud to have the opportunity to be part of this critical mission in support of Monroe County and the state of Florida." This second state mission brings forth a unique skillset of Engineers and Soldiers who are trained to perform basic construction-type operations of interior demolition and de-mucking. While this is not a typical mission for the National Guard, its execution is vital to the stabilization of an area hit hardest by Hurricane Irma. The storm passed directly through the Lower Keys, leaving nearly 12,000 homes uninhabitable and with limited hotels or shelters for displaced residences. "There's such a limited amount of housing in Monroe County, being an island chain, that we have to utilize the houses we have, and we do that through the process that we're going through now," said Martin Senterfitt, Monroe County's director of emergency management. The Keys also face unique geographic challenges that other counties have not faced post-Irma. Standard recovery efforts are halted or at least stalled due to a minimum two-hour travel time from the mainland to the Lower Keys, extending the time it takes for contractors to come into the area to assist or for debris contractors to pull debris out of the Keys. "What makes the National Guard so important to us is that there aren't enough hotels to bring in the traditional contractors ... when the National Guard comes in, they come in self-sufficient and they're able to house themselves, transport themselves, and right now the Guard is able to come in and start that first initial part of this mission." Given the high number of personnel displaced with limited resources available for housing, the Guard members have stepped in to help Monroe County accelerate the timeline for residents to have a safe home to eventually return to once additional repairs and modifications are made by others. There's an evaluation process that occurs where the 753rd goes into a home to see what they can do to make the home livable again. Some of the homes are completely destroyed, in which case the team might only be able to help the residents recover certain valuables. In most cases the debris is removed, and a room cleared for the residents to start using again. "People literally start crying when (the Guard members) show up. It shows that the state and the nation hasn't forgotten the Keys, whether it was the first day after the storm when we had C-130s and Black Hawks flying overhead delivering supplies, to now when we have the Army convoys moving through the streets," said Senterfitt. "The patriotism is outstanding." The process to restore the Keys will take several months and multiple players, but Senterfitt says the way everyone has responded to Hurricane Irma sets the standard for disaster response. "A lot of people may not hear much about the Florida Keys as perhaps they're hearing about Texas or even Puerto Rico, but part of that is because of the incredible success we're having down here," said Senterfitt. "This is a story about working together and solving problems. " The success of the 753rd throughout the Keys is surprising considering the unit was only formed just days prior to Hurricane Irma's landfall. "Given this Battalion relocated, transformed and activated on Sept. 1 and we were activated on Sept. 7, I'm amazed at the cohesion and professionalism our Soldiers continue to exhibit," said Evans. Despite being activated for over three weeks, she says the Soldiers' morale is still very high and that they feel a sense of pride about the work they're doing here. "The Soldiers are passionate about what they are doing and it shows in each and every interaction they have with these home owners. This is truly why each of us volunteered to raise our right hand and join the Florida National Guard. "
 SHARE
 PRINT
  Hurricane Irma
 
 N.M. National Guard bolstering communications in Puerto Rico
 By  Spc. Samuel Keenan
  Virgin Islands dog finds new home with New York MP
 By Eric Durr
  National Guard wraps up busy hurricane season
 By Tech. Sgt. Erich B. Smith
  More
 Pennsylvania Guard WMD Civil Support Team Completes Exercise4/12/2024Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders4/12/2024South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment4/12/2024 View more Guard News »
 US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica4/8/2024
Deployed Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Earn Their Combat Patch3/27/2024
Pennsylvania Guard Conducts Medical Cold-Load Training in Africa3/20/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Maryland Guard, Bosnia and Herzegovina Conduct JTAC Training4/12/2024

Illinois Air Guard Supports Partner Poland4/10/2024

Wisconsin Guard Builds on Papua New Guinea Partnership4/4/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil