Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Master Sgt. Lamar Anderson, 169th Logistics Readiness Squadron, right, issues equipment to the initial group of 32 Airmen from the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Eastover, S.C. as they prepare to depart for Bluffton, SC., Sept. 1, 2019. Once there, they will provide Hurricane Dorian response support to civilian partners. South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from units across the state prepare to respond as needed, in support of the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian to the state. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Edward Snyder, 169th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)190901-F-OL711-270
                        
                        
                        Master Sgt. Lamar Anderson, 169th Logistics Readiness Squadron, right, issues equipment to the initial group of 32 Airmen from the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, Eastover, S.C. as they prepare to depart for Bluffton, SC., Sept. 1, 2019. Once there, they will provide Hurricane Dorian response support to civilian partners. South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from units across the state prepare to respond as needed, in support of the potential impact of Hurricane Dorian to the state. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Edward Snyder, 169th Fighter Wing Public Affairs)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

South Carolina National Guard provides support to families, service members during storm activationPublished Sept. 4, 2019
                    
                    By Capt. Jessica Donnelly
                    
                    
                    South Carolina National Guard Public Affairs
            **COLUMBIA, S.C. (AFNS) --**The South Carolina governor declared a state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Dorian, Aug. 31. The South Carolina National Guard answered the call to support the citizens in this time of need.
This is the role of the South Carolina National Guard Service Member and Family Care directorate.
“We are here to help support our military families,” said Army Lt. Col. Marion Bulwinkle, SMFC director.
The mission of SMFC is to provide resources and assistance to South Carolina National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and their families. These resources range from employment and financial help, youth activities and even disaster relief support.
“This hurricane is a stressful event, no matter what role you play at home or within our organization,” said Grace Parsons, South Carolina National Guard State Family Programs director.
Due to the stresses that come with having a service member away from home, the South Carolina National Guard SMFC directorate is working to contact the families of those mobilized Soldiers and Airmen, as well as those whose home of record is currently in the potential impact zone of the hurricane to ensure they have the support they need. There is also a Family Assistance hotline, a toll-free number, for South Carolina National Guard Families in need of assistance with hurricane preparedness, and those impacted by disaster: 1-800-317-5553. The number is operational 24/7 throughout South Carolina National Guard disaster response efforts and managed by trained Family Assistance specialists.
“They stand ready to specifically serve our Guard families so that our Soldiers and Airmen may remain focused on their military duties,” Parsons added.
The South Carolina National Guard is made up of more than 10,000 Soldiers and Airmen, and approximately 20% of the force is mobilized in the state for hurricane response, or somewhere in the nation or overseas in support of federal missions, Parsons explained.
“That is a plethora of families who are ‘minus one,’ and in some cases ‘minus two,’ as we have many dual military families in our Guard,” Parsons said.
For those service members who are activated in support of the hurricane response, the South Carolina National Guard ensures they are provided the resources they need as well. The logistics office for the organization coordinates food and water, hygiene facilities, laundry services and shelter for all Soldiers and Airmen mobilized to provide response efforts in support of civilian authorities.
“Our job is to be ready to assist our state during a time of need, but we also need to ensure we take care of our Soldiers and Airmen who are activated away from their families,” said Army Maj. Gen. Van McCarty, South Carolina adjutant general. “There are resources and programs in place within the organization, the service members and families need to reach out when they need the support.”
If there are any issues that a Soldier or Airman is facing during disaster response, they should notify their chain of command or SMFC at 1-800-317-5553.
“It is okay to ask for help if you are struggling leading up to, during and following this event,” said Parsons. “It’s okay to not know how to handle certain life situations and to reach out. You are not alone. This is good, convenient, free help available.”
The South Carolina National Guard is capable of supporting with multiple assets to include evacuation assistance, manning traffic control points, supply and sandbag transportation, water purification, security support, critical infrastructure protection, high-water vehicle transportation and evacuation, search and rescue, communication support, debris clearing and more all in support of civilian partners.L/R 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



AF family 



readiness 



safety 



South Carolina National Guard 



Hurricanes 



Hurricane Dorian Updates 



weather 



ANG 



National Guard 



Air National Guard 



support 



services 



family 



Mobilize Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil