1,000 Fort Liberty soldiers wait to deploy to western NC

One-thousand soldiers from Fort Liberty’s Infantry Battalion Task Force will be deployed to western North Carolina to help with recovery efforts.

During his visit to North Carolina on Wednesday, President Joe Biden announced that the troops will join the North Carolina National Guard in delivering supplies, food and water to isolated communities.

Photos shared by the Department of Defense (DoD) show soldiers at Fort Liberty loading vehicles with supplies, ready to deploy.

The task force is on standby, waiting for an official Title 10 order from the president for active duty service members to assist in a mission inside the United States.

The soldiers are being deployed in addition to the support provided by the Department of Defense (DoD) and FEMA in response to Hurricane Helene.

Here’s an overview:

• U.S. Army and U.S. Navy helicopters, soldiers and sailors will provide critical capability to move personnel and supplies in areas where access via roads is not available or viable.
• U.S. Air Force aircraft, helicopters and airmen will provide search-and-rescue capabilities.
• U.S. Army soldiers and high-wheeled vehicles will move personnel and supplies over roads and terrain damaged or impassable to normal vehicles.
• The Army Corps of Engineers is supporting debris removal, water and wastewater management and bridge inspections.

Additionally, hundreds of National Guard service members are assisting with debris removal, air lifts, search and rescue, road clearance, commodities and transport.