Army National Soldiers Remember Hurricane Katrina Response and Lessons They Learned

Media Opportunity to Speak with Local Troops Who Served in the Hurricane-Stricken Area

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A New York Air National Guard C-5A Galaxy on loads New York Army National Guard vehicles and equipment at the Albany Airport in early September 2005.

ARMY AVIATION SUPPORT FACILITY, RONKONKOMA (08/24/2010)(readMedia)-- New York Army National Guard aviators who responded to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 will be available to reporters to discuss the lessons they learned which can be applied to emergency response missions in New York today.

WHO: pilots and crew chiefs of Company B, 3rd Battalion 142nd Aviation operating UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. Participants will include: Chief Warrants Officers Bruce Hoffman, Vic Figiuolo, Johnny Cardona, Steve Polis, and Christopher Munz, Staff Sergeant Michael Roeding and Sergeant Matthew Bonura.

WHAT: Interview opportunity, with members of the New York Army National Guard who were mobilized and deployed to the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

WHEN: Thursday, August 26, 2010 from 2 to 3 p.m.

WHERE: Army Aviation support Facility #1, 201 Schaefer Drive, Ronkonkoma.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The New York National Guard performed the following actions in response to the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Recovery efforts:

• Rapidly deployed dozens of Air and Army National Guard aircraft, both fixed and rotary wing, and rescued trapped residents in New Orleans, transported more than 3.5 million pounds of relief supplies and equipment into the region and carried nearly 2,200 passengers.

• Mobilized and deployed hundreds of aviation support, medical, communications, security and technical staff personnel for direct support operations region wide.

• Collected nearly 4,000 boxes of donated clothing at the Jamaica Armory in Queens for delivery to charitable organizations supporting evacuees.

• Identified more than 1,000 additional personnel and equipment for possible on call deployment.

For more information, contact the DMNA Public Affairs Office at (518) 786-4581. On site POC is First Lieutenant Juan Marco at (631) 471-0914.