Hurricane Rescue and Recovery Update for October 3rd, 2024

 Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts: Comprehensive Update

Overview: In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, recovery efforts are underway across several affected states. This report provides a detailed overview of the recovery status, focusing on county-level impacts, National Guard involvement, and the role of State Guards.

Affected States and County-Level Impact

 

Florida:

Counties Most Affected: Charlotte, Citrus, Dixie, Franklin, Hernando, Hillsborough, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lee, Levy, Madison, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Taylor, Wakulla.

 

Recovery Efforts: Over 3,900 Florida National Guard members have been deployed for search and rescue missions and debris removal. Power restoration is ongoing with significant progress made. Federal assistance supports debris removal and emergency measures.

 

Georgia:

Counties Most Affected: Augusta faces severe challenges with power outages and infrastructure damage.

 

Recovery Efforts: Approximately 1,395 Georgia National Guard members are engaged in clearing routes and setting up distribution points for essential supplies.

 

North Carolina:

Counties Most Affected: Weaverville and Asheville experience power outages and water shortages.

 

Recovery Efforts: Over 700 National Guard members are involved in clearing roads and transporting supplies. Additional personnel from Texas are assisting.

 

South Carolina:

Counties Most Affected: Federal disaster assistance is aiding recovery efforts.

 

Recovery Efforts: More than 490 South Carolina Guardsmen are focused on road clearing and supporting local emergency operations centers.

 

Tennessee:

Counties Most Affected: Recovery operations are primarily focused on restoring power and infrastructure.

 

Recovery Efforts: Over 125 Guardsmen have been mobilized for rescue operations and relief support.

 

Virginia:

Counties Most Affected: Designated counties receive federal assistance for recovery.

 

Recovery Efforts: More than 50 Guardsmen have been deployed for rescue operations and road clearance.

 

National Guard Involvement

The National Guard has played a crucial role in the recovery efforts across all affected states:

Over 6,700 National Guard members from multiple states have been deployed to assist with search and rescue operations, debris clearance, and logistical support.

 

President Biden authorized the deployment of 1,000 active-duty troops to provide additional logistics capabilities to FEMA and other agencies.

 

State Guard Involvement

State Guards have NOT been prominently involved in the recovery efforts for several reasons:

Operational Scope: State Guards typically focus on state-specific missions such as "ceremonial duties" or "local law enforcement support" rather than large-scale disaster response.

This revelation is quite concerning given the impact magnitude of the disaster areas!

Please note:

> The majority of each impacted State currently does NOT utilize State Border Defense Guard, State Defense Force (SDF) service assets or training. Alabama - another impacted State, likewise, does NOT have a functioning SDF.

> North Carolina (the most severaly impacted overall) does NOT maintain a State Border Defense service asset.

> Although Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia do have active State Defense Forces, reports reveal these State Emergency Service assets are NOT being utilized in the recovery effort.

 

Capacity and Resources: The National Guard is better equipped for large-scale emergency response operations.

 

Federal Coordination: The National Guard's ability to operate under federal orders allows for broader coordination with federal agencies.

In summary, while the National Guard has been at the forefront of recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene across multiple states, State Guards have NOT been significantly involved due to their different operational focus and capacity. Recovery efforts continue with a focus on restoring power, clearing debris, and providing essential supplies to affected communities.

 

Expect additional follow-on reports to discovered subject matter as more substantial and reliable wire service reporting details become available through our PKTF Central Office.

 

 

 

 

PKTF - Central Office

Ongoing Recovery Exercise for Impacted American States in the Southeast

Our original report went out to the Federation of States and to all other affected American State Assemblies since the weather catastrophe began over the weekend.

The following are reports as they come in post-incident from 24 hours out and earlier, depending on our reliable sources.

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Situational Update: Southeast Weather Devastation and Ongoing Recovery Efforts

Date: Within the last 24 hours
Source: PKTF - External S2 Communications Wire System (Reliable)

Overview

The southeastern United States is experiencing catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene, coinciding with a significant dock worker union strike set to begin, which will shut down most East Coast ports. A nationwide Verizon outage has also affected communications across the United States.

Communication Challenges

Cellular communications have been strained due to increased demand throughout the Southeast, leading to localized outages. The cause of this national outage remains undisclosed but is possibly unrelated to storm damage. The widespread telecom issues present an exceptionally vulnerable target for malicious actors, both foreign and domestic.

Dock Worker Union Strike

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) has initiated a strike at ports from Maine to Texas, marking the first such action since 1977. This strike could severely disrupt supply chains, creating shortages and increasing prices if prolonged. High-risk rail freight has already been halted to prevent hazardous materials from being stranded.

Impact on Logistics

The labor strike is expected to have catastrophic impacts on logistics, particularly in the already devastated American Southeast. East Coast ports being shut down, combined with the apocalyptic damage reported in the Southeast, could lead to a near-total breakdown of cargo operations.

Hurricane Helene's Devastation

In North Carolina, devastation remains at historic levels with potentially thousands missing. The Department of Transportation has urged everyone to consider all roads in Western North Carolina closed until further notice. Asheville, a major metropolitan center, has suffered severe damage with roads blocked or impassable. In Florida, the city of Okeechobee is under a state of de facto martial law as Chief of Police Donald Hagan signed a local state of emergency declaration nullifying the Second Amendment and banning ammunition sales.

Recovery Efforts

The North Carolina National Guard has deployed 500 soldiers and 200 aircraft and vehicles to aid citizens during this disaster. However, federal resources have been slow to flow into the region due to bureaucratic delays. Most recovery efforts are centered on Asheville, North Carolina, where 100,000 residents are without food and water.

Coordination by The Peacekeeping Task Force (PKTF)

The Peacekeeping Task Force is coordinating efforts to establish a robust communications network to mitigate future telecom failures during disasters. This initiative aims to ensure reliable communication channels for effective recovery and coordination efforts. Despite Florida not having an established published website for emergency contacts, The Florida Assembly does have an active PKTF Assembly Liaison in-training who assists in relaying critical situational details between PKTF, the Federation of States, and The Florida State Assembly in the meantime. Our offices have been able to contact each of the other American State Assemblies via their current website publication through either their direct Contact Section or Comments Section of their blog postings. Contact along these lines has been largely successful by all affected State Assemblies at this time. Although reaction time and ongoing communication threads are being improved for future encounters as we speak.

Importance of State Assembly Websites

Each American State Assembly having a versatile website with up-to-date emergency contact information is crucial for effective disaster response. As for other State Assemblies like The Florida Assembly at this time, the absence of such a resource has posed significant challenges for PKTF's coordination efforts.

Recent Developments

 

Governor Ron DeSantis announced that Florida secured a major disaster declaration for Hurricane Helene.

 

President Joe Biden plans to visit affected regions later this week without disrupting emergency services.

 

Vice President Kamala Harris will cut short a campaign trip to visit storm-ravaged areas.

 

Over 500 people have been rescued in North Carolina amidst severe communication challenges.