CH-47F Chinook helicopters deployed to North Carolina for Hurricane Helene response return today

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Supplies being unloaded from a New York Army Guard CH-47F in Green River, North Carolina on October 4, 2024.

ROCHESTER NEW YORK (10/09/2024) (readMedia)-- Three New York Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopters will return from a deployment in North Carolina after assisting personnel and moving cargo in support of Hurricane Helene response efforts today Wednesday, Oct. 9.

Members of the press are invited to cover their return to the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester.

WHO: Sixteen members of the New York Army National Guard, Detachment 1, B Company of the 3rd Battalion 126th General Support Aviation Battalion.

WHAT: Sixteen Soldiers from the Army National Guard, three heavy lift helicopters and four 100 KW generators were sent to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene on September 29. The personnel and equipment provided general airlift assistance moving people and cargo supporting the North Carolina National Guard. During their deployment they moved 99 tons of cargo-- encompassing food, water, medical supplies, generators, and fuel-- and 32 emergency responders.

WHERE: New York Army National Guard Aviation Support Facility #2, 42 Patriot Way, Rochester, N.Y. 14624

WHEN: 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. (Aircraft are expected to arrive between 3 and 4 p.m.)

Media Opportunity:

Video and still photography of aircraft and crew returning to Rochester after supporting hurricane efforts in North Carolina. There will be an opportunity to interview Army Aviation crew members.

For more information and to coordinate coverage and access to the flight facility, contact Chief Warrant Officer 4 Brian Dengler, 585-530-7342.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday, September 29 that sixteen soldiers from the Army National Guard, three heavy lift helicopters and four 100 KW generators were sent to support recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.

The Soldiers and aircraft are based at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Rochester. The helicopters are assigned to Detachment 1, B Company of the 3rd Battalion 126th General Support Aviation Battalion.

The personnel and equipment provided general airlift assistance moving people and cargo supporting the North Carolina National Guard. During their deployment they moved 99 tons of cargo-- encompassing food, water, medical supplies, generators, and fuel-- and 32 emergency responders.

The New York Army National Guard aviators based at Rochester have deployed personnel and aircraft from the unit to assist during hurricane responses in the past.

In October 2018, the New York Army National Guard deployed two CH-47F helicopters, two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 25 Soldiers to Florida following Hurricane Michael.

The unit also provided logistics support during the November snow storm in Buffalo in 2014 and for responses to Super Storm Sandy in 2012 and Hurricanes Irene and Lee in 2011.