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Texas Military Department News

"Texans Serving Texas"

FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLIC RELEASE:

UPDATE: More than 900 Texas Guardsmen Mobilized in Support of Hurricane Harvey   AUSTIN, Texas (August 25, 2017) – At the request of Gov. Greg Abbott, through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), more than 900 members with the Texas Army and Air National Guards and Texas State Guard with the Texas Military Department have been activated and are prepositioning throughout the state ahead of Hurricane Harvey and its anticipated landfall later this evening or early Saturday. That number is expected to increase to approximately 1,700 within the next 24-48 hours. Additional personnel continue to remain on standby to respond to impacted areas as needed.

Currently, UH-60 Blackhawk, UH-72 Lakota and CH-47 Chinook air crews remain prepositioned and on standby in Austin, San Antonio and Grand Prairie to assist with any emergency search and rescue, swift water rescues and/or emergency evacuations. In addition, multiple Texas Army National ground transportation teams have been activated to support local and state agencies with any request for swift water rescues, high water ground transportation and personnel evacuation needs. They remain prepositioned in Victoria, College Station, and Bastrop with other locations expected as the storm track becomes clearer. Members of the Texas State Guard are mobilized to provide any local shelter operations and Electronic Tracking Network assistance in the affected counties, to include San Antonio.

“This is what we train for,” said Brig. Gen. Patrick M. Hamilton, Commander of Domestic Operations Task Force. “And we’re proud to stand beside our civilian partners, first responders and volunteers to serve the citizens of Texas.” 

The Texas Military Department will continue to work with TDEM to project additional personnel and equipment requirements as needed based on the impact of Hurricane Harvey and the needs of the state.

Hurricane Harvey is the first hurricane to make a direct landfall on the Texas coast since 2008.

“This is Texans helping Texans – neighbors helping neighbors,” Hamilton said. “While we don’t want to have to put our training to the test during a tragedy, our citizen-guardsmen remain prepared to help save lives and property, when called.” 

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The mission of the Texas Military Department (TMD) is to provide the Governor and the President with ready and trained forces in support of the citizens of Texas and State and Federal civil/military authorities at home and abroad.

The Texas Military Department is commanded by the Adjutant General of Texas, the state's senior military official appointed by the governor, and is comprised of the Texas Military Department (formerly the Adjutant General's Department), the Texas Army National Guard (TXARNG), the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG), the Texas State Guard (TXSG) and the Domestic Operations Command (DOMOPS).

For more information about the Texas Military Department visit our Website at https://tmd.texas.gov.