West Virginia Air National Guard prepares to deploy South for Severe Weather Response Mission

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Samantha Brown
  • 130th Airlift Wing

Members of the West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Airlift Wing Fatality Search and Recovery Team gathered to receive parting words from West Virginia National Guard Leadership on Oct. 9, 2024, as they prepared to deploy to Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton was downgraded Wednesday to a Category 4 hurricane after spending a significant amount of time as a Category 5. Wind speeds have been recorded of up to 165 mph.

Nearly 5,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 19 states, including those located within and surrounding the disaster zone, are actively engaged in response and recovery efforts in North Carolina during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit the southeastern United States in late September. Supplementary response operations have been activated in preparation for Hurricane Milton.

FSRT will depart first to Georgia, then to Florida for a 10-day mission to help execute logistics and community support in response to Hurricane Helene and assistance ahead of Hurricane Milton landfall.

The National Guard prioritizes search and rescue, highwater rescues and distribution of food and water when deployed to assist in response to natural disasters. The primary mission of West Virginia’s FSRT is fatality search and recovery. The members of this select team specialize in helping families find closure by reuniting them with their loved ones’ remains, a mission that requires execution with the utmost care and precision.

“The team is going down to support the efforts and assist with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton with the damage and devastation that will occur, and has occurred, already,” said Tech. Sgt. Tyler Mullins, an FSRT member.

Guard Members are acting in support of state and local emergency management officials in response to requests for assistance, distribution of aid, and recovery operations for those affected by the storms. The West Virginia National Guard was mobilized by Gov. Jim Justice at the request of state and local emergency managers.

The 130th AW’s FSRT is an 11-person team staged in Charleston, West Virginia, has approximately 24 to 72 hours to respond to a disaster after an official declaration of emergency. Noting the rapid action ahead of mobilization, Mullins said that there was no hesitation on his team.

“You know, we sign on the dotted line to serve our state, serve our country, serve our community and neighboring states, even our not neighboring states… and when they ask for help, we answer that call,” Mullins said., “This team, within a moment’s notice in the group chat, was like ‘Yes. Send me, send me, send me,’ and I was no different.”

2nd Lt. Nicholas Kauff, Officer in Charge for FSRT, echoed this sentiment.

“We’re ready,” Kauff said. “Ultimately, we are there to help the people. That’s what we want to do. That’s what we’re trained to do. And the morale here is high. We’re ready to go.”

The West Virginia Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing is located in the capitol city of Charleston, West Virginia, at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base. Fatality Search and Recovery Teams are multi-capable Airmen trained and certified to respond to a wide range of disasters and hazards, recover the remains of the deceased, and reunite the remains of those lost with their loved ones. Throughout their mission, these Airmen are monitored by medical professionals and supported by religious affairs and psychological health in order to effectively and empathetically execute their unique mission.