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Tennessee National Guard sends Military Police Company to South Carolina for Hurricane Florence support

Tennessee National Guard

Tennessee National GuardNashville, TN – The Tennessee National Guard sent a military police company to South Carolina today to assist residents of that state in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. 

More than 100 personnel of the 117th Military Police Battalion departed Athens, Tennessee this morning with the necessary equipment and supplies to operate for approximately two weeks.

Soldiers of the Tenn. Army National Guard’s 117th Military Police Battalion conduct a convoy operations briefing prior to departure from battalion headquarters in Athens, Tenn. on September 16, 2018. More than 100 personnel from the battalion are headed to South Carolina to provide assistance to residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (CW4 Nick Atwood, Tenn. National Guard)
Soldiers of the Tenn. Army National Guard’s 117th Military Police Battalion conduct a convoy operations briefing prior to departure from battalion headquarters in Athens, Tenn. on September 16, 2018. More than 100 personnel from the battalion are headed to South Carolina to provide assistance to residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (CW4 Nick Atwood, Tenn. National Guard)

Once processed through reception, their mission will be to augment the local authorities by conducting door to door health and welfare checks, assisting with the manning of traffic control points designed to avoid impassable roads due to flooding and providing for the overall safety of those most affected by the storm.

“This is one of our busiest battalions in the state because of the capability of the MP Companies”, said Tennessee’s Adjutant General, Major General Max Haston.  “They did a fantastic job in the Virgin Islands last year when called upon, and I’m confident they will do no less for our friends in South Carolina.”

Members of the Tenn. Guard’s 117th Military Police Battalion prepare to depart battalion headquarters in Athens, Tenn. for South Carolina, September 16, 2018. More than 100 personnel from the battalion will provide assistance to South Carolina residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (CW4 Nick Atwood, Tenn. National Guard)
Members of the Tenn. Guard’s 117th Military Police Battalion prepare to depart battalion headquarters in Athens, Tenn. for South Carolina, September 16, 2018. More than 100 personnel from the battalion will provide assistance to South Carolina residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence. (CW4 Nick Atwood, Tenn. National Guard)

South Carolina requested the assets through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact process whereby states can ask for help in time of crisis, or other natural disasters. 

The Tennessee Emergency Management Agency is the mitigating agency for such requests and works regularly with other state emergency management agencies to facilitate these cooperative agreements.

The 117th Military Police Battalion is part of the 194th Engineer Brigade, headquartered in Jackson, Tennessee.  The 194th Engineer Brigade has approximately 2000 soldiers, and is considered one of the Army’s most diverse multi-functional engineer brigades consisting of an engineer battalion, an engineer detachment, and two military police battalions.

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