3,820 National Guard troops have been activated to prepare for category 4 Hurricane Florence, and Georgia's National Guard numbers will soon join the Florence-fighting force. The storm is exepcted to make landfall in North Carolina on Thursday.
Here's where hurricane preparations stand:
Georgia
The Georgia National Guard made a statement earlier today that they were prepared for the call to support citizens. That call came early this afternoon when an updated forecast showed that Hurricane Florence could reach parts of Georgia. While official numbers have not been released regarding National Guard activation, Deal's statement mobilized "all available resources."
As of this morning, the North Carolina National Guard has increased its activated members to 320 with 7,000 ready to mobilize. Fort Bragg has been designated as Federal Emergency Management Agency emergency relief site and is currently staging trailers of MREs, cots and other emergency preparedness supplies.
The South Carolina National Guard has now activated 2,000 members who will remain on duty as long as needed according to Army Lt. Col. Cindi King, director of public affairs for the South Carolina National Guard. Charleston International Airport will close all runways at midnight on Wednesday according to a report from the AP.
1,500 Virginia National Guard members have been activated and Gov. Ralph Northam has authorized up to 6,000 troops for operation efforts. Roughly 30 ships left Naval Station Norolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek to safer areas of the Atlantic to avoid the storm. Similarly, all F-22 Raptors and T-38 Talons currently at Joint Base Langley-Eustis are moving to Ohio.
Current VA installation evacuations:
- Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek: All Naval personnel and their families who live in lowest lying areas of Norfolk ordered evacuated.
- Langley Air Force Base: All personnel and their families being evacuated.
Read also: What does USAA cover during a hurricane? and How to keep VA benefits and services flowing during Hurricane Florence
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