It has been nearly a week since Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina, and Joe Biden has finally announced on behalf of whoever is running the country that he has authorized 1,000 federal troops from Fort Bragg (I will never call it anything else), North Carolina, to assist in disaster relief operations a mere 250 miles away in Western North Carolina.

These 1,000 troops will constitute the overwhelming federal military disaster response in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.

According to the Department of Defense, the federal military involvement in this five-state catastrophe is minimal:
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• Four helicopters with para-rescue teams are at McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee.
• Eight Army helicopters and ten Navy helicopters were available at Fort Bragg on Monday.
• Thirty high-water vehicles are at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for reasons that are unclear.

The critical resources needed in the hardest hit areas of Western North Carolina are helicopters for getting stranded people out of danger and bringing supplies to areas cut off by flooding. As of this afternoon, the only military aircraft available are 11 from Florida, two from South Carolina, seven from Tennessee, and one from Virginia. Some of those may be in use in North Carolina as both Florida and South Carolina have sent National Guard contingents to North Carolina.

A lot of hard questions are being asked.
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As an aside, Howard's story of petty bickering among local officials seems to be spot on; see Pilot flying Helene rescue missions in NC ordered out, threatened with arrest.

The Civil Rights Lawyer @johnbryanesq
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People are flying their own helicopters in and actively rescuing people in NC and local government officials are threatening them with arrest. You don’t hate your government enough.
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7:01 AM · Oct 1, 2024 //

To qualify for federal military assistance after a disaster, the Stafford Act must be invoked. This requires a governor to request assistance under that law. Biden declared a state of emergency in North Carolina on September 26 which released some federal aid. Governor Roy Cooper made a Stafford Act request on September 27), but Biden delayed invoking the Stafford Act until today, Wednesday. //

Note the tasking includes a single Forward Support Company. This is rather astounding as that unit has extremely limited capabilities. It has an aid station, a field kitchen, about a half-dozen trucks, and vehicle repair section. What is needed in Western North Carolina is emergency generators, communications, heavy engineering equipment, medical support, cargo haul capability, and helicopters. Even though Fort Bragg has well over 100 helicopters, only eight have been tasked to assist in recovery and relief operations.

Why has the tap been turned off to military assistance for North Carolina and other battered states? One can't help but remember this statement by Biden.

Greg Price @greg_price11
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Reporter: "Do you have any words to the victims of the hurricane?"

Biden: "We've given everything that we have."

Reporter "Are there any more resources the federal government could be giving them?"

Biden: "No."

10:36 PM · Sep 29, 2024

And private helicopters flying rescue missions still outnumber military ones in the storm-blasted areas. //