The Iowa National Guard, deployed to North Carolina this week to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Helen, on Tuesday helped evacuate more than 20 nursing home residents stranded by massive flooding.
Troopers airlifted 34 stranded residents of a nursing home in Yancey County, North Carolina, after devastating flooding and storm damage.
Jackie Schmillen, director of public affairs for the Iowa National Guard, said the Iowa National Guard is on standby to deploy for additional support.
“Right now, roads are completely submerged, so we continue to provide water, food and other necessary necessities to areas that are completely surrounded by water,” Schmillen said. “Whatever mission North Carolina gives us every day, that’s what we respond to and support.”
USA Today reported that National Guard soldiers and helicopters were sent from Iowa, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and South Carolina to support the North Carolina National Guard.
The Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Florida late Thursday brought winds of 140 mph to the southeast. The hurricane caused devastating flooding, leaving residents without electricity or running water in cities such as Asheville, North Carolina.
The death toll from Hurricane Helen was at least 162 as of Wednesday, USA Today reported.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds authorized the deployment of seven National Guard members and a rapid water rescue team funded by the state of North Carolina until at least Oct. 8. Schmillen said the National Guard's deployment schedule to North Carolina has not changed. It was Wednesday afternoon.
Reynolds said Wednesday in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Iowa National Guard is making a difference in North Carolina.
Pat Harrigan, a Republican from North Carolina who is running for Congress, posted a photo Tuesday of the Iowa National Guard evacuating nursing home residents.
Sabine Martin covers politics for the Register. She can be reached by email at sabine.martin@gannett.com or by phone at (515) 284-8132. Follow @sabinefmartin on X.
