JACKSON, Miss.— Members of the Mississippi National Guard are currently providing support to the Hurricane Harvey response in southeast Texas.
Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen are serving in the Houston, Austin, and San Antonio, Texas operations areas. Soldiers from Tupelo’s Company D, 2nd Battalion, 151st Aviation Regiment are providing search and rescue support using two LUH 72A Lakota helicopters. Airmen assigned to Meridian’s 186th Air Refueling Wing are assisting with relief planning and coordination efforts. In addition, personnel from Flowood’s 172d Airlift Wing are providing communications support and transported Kentucky National Guardsmen to Texas overnight via a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for response support.
“Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the people of Texas,” said Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi. “The Mississippi National Guard will support response efforts as long as we are needed.”
Governor Phil Bryant said in a Facebook post that additional resources are waiting to be deployed should they be needed:
The Mississippi National Guard has sent personnel and search and rescue helicopters to Texas to assist with response efforts to Harvey. The Guard has additional assets ready should they be needed.
Additionally, swift water rescue teams and other assets from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks have staged and are awaiting the green light from Texas officials to help those whose lives have been upended.
Texans helped Mississippi in our time of need after Hurricane Katrina, and we are more than happy to return their kindness. Please continue to pray for our friends in the Lone Star State and all those struggling with the aftermath of this terrible storm.
