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        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Florida National Guard members prepare for potential hurricane response missions in Opa-Locka, Florida, as outer winds from Hurricane Dorian hit the Florida coast, Sept. 2, 2019.190902-Z-NF376-065
                        
                        
                        Florida National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, from the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Defense Enhanced Response Force Package, load equipment and prepare for potential missions responding to Hurricane Dorian. (National Guard photo by Ching Oettel)
                
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National Guard positioned to respond to Hurricane DorianPublished Sept. 4, 2019
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Erich B. Smith
                    
                    
                    National Guard Bureau
            **ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) --**As Hurricane Dorian makes its way along the Florida coast, the National Guard is in place to respond, said Gen. Joseph Lengyel, National Guard Bureau chief, during a Pentagon press conference Sept. 3.
“As I stand here, there are more than 5,500 National Guard members in four states, ready to provide full-spectrum recovery and support to all those impacted by Hurricane Dorian,” Lengyel said. “A preponderance (of those forces) are in Florida.”
According to Guard officials, the Florida National Guard has more than 4,500 Airmen and Soldiers mobilized for response efforts.
Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina National Guard are positioning Airmen and Soldiers ahead of the hurricane as it proceeds along its path, Lengyel said.
“(Guard members) will be poised to work and ready for their communities and states, from the inception of preparation, through the response, through the recovery and until the (local first) responders can handle this without any military assistance,” Lengyel said.
Part of the Guard response, he added, includes the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows Guard elements in states affected by a hurricane or other disaster to request Guard personnel from other states should additional assets be needed.
Preparations for possible hurricane response efforts also began well before Dorian formed.
“The preparation for this hurricane started last spring,” he said.
At that time, Guard leadership in each state mapped out their available capabilities as well as what additional assets may need to be shared with or drawn from other states. Additionally, pre-arrangements were made detailing how Guard elements in one state would automatically support response efforts in another state.
A similar meeting is held each spring, Lengyel said, as overseas deployments and other training requirements may affect what assets are available. The goal is to ensure quick response in times of need, he said, adding that less time and distance to getting assets on the ground equals more lives saved.
“It’s an efficient system,” Lengyel said of the EMAC and yearly planning efforts.
He also stressed how collaboration with local and state as well as federal agencies and other military entities, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Northern Command, makes for an effective response and recovery effort.
“We stay in sync with NORTHCOM, FEMA and all our partners associated with the hurricane response,” he said.
While Dorian continues on its path, Lengyel stressed that the Guard remains flexible in its response preparations.
“As this storm moves north, Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina will in succession, I believe, add more forces to National Guard structures that are in place.”
Lengyel added that Guard units from throughout the country are there if needed.
“The National Guard can also draw upon a proven and highly trained force of over 450,000 men and women, Soldiers and Airmen, from all 50 states, three territories and District of Columbia if needed,” he said.LR 



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