Indiana Nationwide Guard to be reimbursed $130K after Florida declines hurricane assist – WTHR
The $130,000 will cowl the fee to fly the helicopters to Fort Rucker, Alabama and again, together with crew pay, meals and lodging.
INDIANAPOLIS — Florida will reimburse the Indiana Nationwide Guard round $130,000 after soldiers sent to Florida to assist with Hurricane Ian aid efforts had been turned away.
Hurricane Ian made landfall final Wednesday. The subsequent day, Indiana despatched greater than a dozen troopers, three flight crews and mechanics, together with two Black Hawk helicopters to assist navy and different businesses in logistics and rescue missions.
“That is what Hoosiers do, assist our neighbors when known as upon, whether or not it is right here in Indiana or the Sunshine State,” stated Lt. Col. Scott Oden, the Indiana Nationwide Guard’s director of aviation and security. “The Nationwide Guard’s distinctive, twin mission to nation and state permits our troopers and airmen to assist out right here at house and throughout the USA.”
Sadly, the guardsmen did not get to actually help.
On Friday, the day after they left, they had been instructed to return house after “it was decided Florida Nationwide Guard belongings had been adequate, and Indiana Nationwide Guard assists had been not required,” the Nationwide Guard stated.
The troopers had made it to Fort Rucker, Alabama, however to not Florida.
Grasp Sgt. Jeff Lowry instructed 13News that the whole price to fly the helicopters to Fort Rucker and again, together with crew pay, meals and lodging, was roughly $130,000.
Lowry stated Wednesday that Florida will reimburse the Indiana Nationwide Guard.
Ian made landfall Wednesday in southwest Florida as one of the highly effective storms ever recorded within the U.S. The Category 4 storm slammed the coast with 150 mph winds, swamping metropolis streets with water and smashing buildings and timber alongside the coast.
The Indiana Nationwide Guard responded to 2 hurricane aid efforts in 2017 following Harvey in Texas and Irma in Florida, and once more in 2018 following Florence in North Carolina.
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