Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the deployment of additional New York Air National Guard resources to assist in the Hurricane Harvey response in Texas. A HC-130 search and rescue aircraft carrying 15 more Airmen from the 106thRescue Wing is scheduled to leave Gabreski Air National Guard Base this morning and arrive at Fort Hood in Texas later in the day. Additionally, a Regional Medical Plans Officer will depart for Texas on Thursday to assist with the evacuation and transportation of patients from area hospitals.

“As our neighbors in the south continue to grapple with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, I am deploying additional personnel and equipment to assist in continued search and rescue operations,” Governor Cuomo said. “New Yorkers are no strangers to the destruction that can come at the hands of Mother Nature, and we are prepared to continue to support these efforts in any way we can.”

This additional deployment come days after the Governor pledged New York’s support to Texas and Louisiana and dispatched 104 Airmen along with three HH-60 Pavehawk rescue helicopters, another HC-130 and several boats and watercraft. On Monday, rescue teams in the three helicopters and three boat rescue teams were responsible for rescuing 255 residents in the Houston and Katy, Texas areas.

New York has 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 firefighters west many times to assist with containing wildfires.

(YWN Desk – NYC)