Biden sends 1,000 Army troops to North Carolina for Helene response

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Wednesday he's approved the deployment of up to 1,000 active-duty Army personnel to reinforce the North Carolina National Guard in response and recovery efforts following devastating flooding from Hurricane Helene.

"These soldiers will speed up the delivery of life-saving supplies of food, water, and medicine to isolated communities in North Carolina – they have the manpower and logistical capabilities to get this vital job done, and fast," Biden said in a statement.

Biden said the soldiers will join the hundreds of North Carolina National Guard members who have already been activated by Gov. Roy Cooper.

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The federal deployment comes as Biden heads to North Carolina and South Carolina Wednesday to meet with flood victims and survey damage left by the hurricane, which killed at least 162 people across the Southeast, including 57 in Buncombe County, North Carolina, home to Asheville.

The soldiers will come from a task force stationed at Fort Liberty in North Carolina, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

The Army and Navy will use helicopters and high wheeled vehicles to move supplies and personnel to areas not accessible by road or with normal vehicles, Ryder said in a statement. The Air Force will help carry out search-and-rescue missions, and the Army Corps of Engineers will assist with removing debris, water and wastewater management, and inspecting bridges.

The Defense Department has activated 22 helicopters to aid search and rescue operations and provided dozens of high-water vehicles. More than 6,000 National Guard personnel across 12 states are assisting, while 4,800 workers from different parts of the federal government are involved in recovery efforts. That includes 1,200 Federal Emergency Management Agency workers and other federal employees in North Carolina.

More: Kamala Harris to survey Helene damage in Georgia, future trip planned for North Carolina

FEMA officials said the agency has distributed 8.5 million meals, more than 7 million liters of water, 150 generators and more than 220,000 tarps as part of the hurricane response.

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, is visiting August, Georgia on Wednesday to tour storm damage and provide updates on the federal response. Harris plans to visit North Carolina in the coming days, while Biden makes a separate trip to Georgia and Florida later this week.

Reach Joey Garrison on X, formerly Twitter, @joeygarrison.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden deploys 1,000 soldiers for North Carolina Helene response