By Army Sgt. Debra Cook 107th Mobile Public Affairs
Detachment
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Sept. 8, 2017 — Florida Gov. Rick Scott
declared a state of emergency on Labor Day in anticipation of Hurricane Irma's
pending arrival, and while communities began stocking up on food and water,
Florida’s Army and Air National Guard were already activating military
personnel.
Assembling Troops, Equipment
Soldiers belonging to a variety of Florida National Guard
units began to report to their unit armories. It is during these early moments,
when the National Guard G4, which functions as the logistics department of the
Florida National Guard, implements its contingency planning and is a key
department in supporting contingencies -- including natural disasters brought
on by hurricanes.
"The primary mission of logistics is all-encompassing,”
said Lt. Col. Blake Heidelberg, the Florida Army National Guard's G4 Defense
Support of Civil Authority coordinator. “We have to be positioned and prepared
to support the entire Florida National Guard, to include the Air National
Guard, in order to sustain long term in austere environments.”
After the storm passes, the Florida National Guard will work
with the state’s civilian authorities to work rescue and recovery operations.
Logistical staging areas and points of distribution will be set up, military
personnel put in place, and supplies delivered.
Many Unknowns
“In a hurricane, there are so many unknowns. Where will it
impact? What will the short- and long-term damage be? The mission is to plan
and support every potential outcome," Heidelberg said. "Much of the
coordination can't take place until the storm has passed."
Water, food, diapers, and tarps are just a few of the items
that are coordinated and provided to displaced families. Military personnel
also assist local law enforcement to provide security and assist local
communities by clearing downed trees from routes so that first responders can
travel unhindered and families can safely return home without concern of
additional damage to homes and property.
"A natural disaster or catastrophic event usually
results in significant impacts over an extended period of time. It overwhelms
state and local communities while almost immediately exceeding resources,” said
Deputy Chief of Logistics, G4, Army Col. Frank A. Zenko. “As logisticians, it
is imperative to anticipate needs and then pre-position equipment and supplies
in order to rapidly respond to areas impacted by the storm."
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