Governor
Andrew Cuomo today announced the return of aircraft and crews from the
106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard. The rescue team
arrived at Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton, Long Island
around 5 p.m. Saturday, September 2 following their successful support
to help victims of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. The rescue team used both
aircraft and small water craft to rescue 546 residents of the Houston
area following the catastrophic flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey.
"We are grateful for the heroism and hard work of the New York Air National Guard, as their efforts have already saved 546 people from the rising waters in Texas," Governor Cuomo said. "I join all New Yorkers in congratulating these tremendous Citizen Airmen who served professionally and bravely to put their unit slogan into reality, "that others may live," and welcome them back home to their families."
The New York Air National Guard rescue team included three HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters, two HC-130s and several boats and watercraft. The crews and aircraft returned to their air base and families Saturday evening, September 2. The HC-130 aircraft will fly back from Texas, while the HH-60 helicopters have been loaded and flown back to New York by C-17 aircraft from the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing, based in Newburgh, Orange County.
Governor Cuomo deployed more than 120 Air Guard personnel on August 26 and 29 to assist Texas National Guard response forces providing rescue and evacuation of flood victims. The 106th Rescue Wing supports the Air Force's personnel recovery mission.
The pararescue personnel began operations on Monday, August 28 with rescue teams deployed in the three helicopters and three boat rescue teams operating in the Houston and Katy, Texas areas. The wing is manned by more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel and also performs civil search and rescue missions as well as assisting state disaster relief and other state emergencies as directed by the Governor.
"We are grateful for the heroism and hard work of the New York Air National Guard, as their efforts have already saved 546 people from the rising waters in Texas," Governor Cuomo said. "I join all New Yorkers in congratulating these tremendous Citizen Airmen who served professionally and bravely to put their unit slogan into reality, "that others may live," and welcome them back home to their families."
The New York Air National Guard rescue team included three HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters, two HC-130s and several boats and watercraft. The crews and aircraft returned to their air base and families Saturday evening, September 2. The HC-130 aircraft will fly back from Texas, while the HH-60 helicopters have been loaded and flown back to New York by C-17 aircraft from the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing, based in Newburgh, Orange County.
Governor Cuomo deployed more than 120 Air Guard personnel on August 26 and 29 to assist Texas National Guard response forces providing rescue and evacuation of flood victims. The 106th Rescue Wing supports the Air Force's personnel recovery mission.
The pararescue personnel began operations on Monday, August 28 with rescue teams deployed in the three helicopters and three boat rescue teams operating in the Houston and Katy, Texas areas. The wing is manned by more than 1,000 military and civilian personnel and also performs civil search and rescue missions as well as assisting state disaster relief and other state emergencies as directed by the Governor.
"I
am proud to join the governor and all New Yorkers in welcoming home our
Airmen who spent this week showing Texas and the nation that the value
of our hard training and dedicated personnel pays off at home just as
much as the warfight overseas," said Maj. Gen. Anthony German, the
Adjutant General for the New York National Guard. "These Airmen
showcased the value of our National Guard as always ready, and always
there."
On August 31, Governor Cuomo also announced a 30-member State Incident Management Team deployed to College Station, Texas to continue New York's support of recovery efforts in Texas. The State IMT consists of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable Communications, State Police, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks Recreation and Preservation, Office of Information Technology Services, and Port Authority New York and New Jersey.
The wing's most recent rescue missions prior to Hurricane Harvey was the launch of pararescue personnel in the Atlantic Ocean to save two badly burned commercial sailors on board the 625-foot long bulk cargo carrier Tamar near the Azores on April 28, 2017.
New York and the New York National Guard have a long history of helping other states following natural disasters. In addition to sending similar assistance to Florida following Hurricanes Matthew, Frances, Ivan, and Dennis, New York dispatched a multi-agency team of more than 300 individuals to assist Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, as well as another 18-member team after Hurricane Gustav. Additionally, New York has sent crews of civilian firefighters west many times to assist with containing wildfires.
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
On August 31, Governor Cuomo also announced a 30-member State Incident Management Team deployed to College Station, Texas to continue New York's support of recovery efforts in Texas. The State IMT consists of the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Emergency Management, Fire Prevention and Control, and Interoperable Communications, State Police, Department of Transportation, Department of Environmental Conservation, Office of Parks Recreation and Preservation, Office of Information Technology Services, and Port Authority New York and New Jersey.
The wing's most recent rescue missions prior to Hurricane Harvey was the launch of pararescue personnel in the Atlantic Ocean to save two badly burned commercial sailors on board the 625-foot long bulk cargo carrier Tamar near the Azores on April 28, 2017.
New York and the New York National Guard have a long history of helping other states following natural disasters. In addition to sending similar assistance to Florida following Hurricanes Matthew, Frances, Ivan, and Dennis, New York dispatched a multi-agency team of more than 300 individuals to assist Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina, as well as another 18-member team after Hurricane Gustav. Additionally, New York has sent crews of civilian firefighters west many times to assist with containing wildfires.
Source: Press Office, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
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