DETROIT – A battalion from the Michigan National Guard based in Montague will be heading to South Carolina to help communities affected by Hurricane Helene.
About 40 soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1436th Engineer Company, 507th Engineer Battalion, will be helping federal and local authorities in South Carolina with debris removal and road clearing.
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“Michiganders are tough and we always help those in need,“ said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “Members of our Michigan National Guard and Michigan Task Force 1 Swiftwater Team are risking their own lives to save others, honoring their duty and living up to the values that best define who we are. I hope they carry out the mission successfully and get home safe as soon as possible. Let’s keep helping each other.”
“Part of our mission is disaster response and we train to be ready to support our communities across Michigan during times of need and to answer the call from other communities when facing natural disasters,” said First Lieutenant Brock Cristal, executive officer for the 1436th Engineer Company. “Our focus in South Carolina will be to help clear roadways and areas overcome by debris so that members of these communities can more readily receive the support they desperately need.”
On Sept. 26, the Michigan State Police Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division had a 19-member team go to North Carolina to help with potential water search and rescue operations. There, they rescued and evacuated 28 people. They arrived back in Michigan on Oct. 4.
