Photo By Staff Sgt. Stacey Thornburg | A retail building stands in ruins in the presence of a rainbow in Nashville, Georgia,...... read more read more
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VALDOSTA, Ga. – Multiple Reserve Citizen Airmen assigned to the 476th Fighter Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., also known as the Vanguards, united to bring help and hope to the community after the deadly category 4 Hurricane Helene made landfall and crept its way into the town, September 27, 2024, here.
The wind gusts of the midnight freight train exceeding 100 mph completely ravaged the town of Valdosta and the surrounding communities in the span of a few hours, leaving behind destruction that caught many by surprise.
“We absolutely thought the roof was coming off, but luckily that was not the case,” said Senior Master Sgt. Jason Hough, the 476th Maintenance Squadron production superintendent. “It was by far the worst storm I had ever been through and I have grown up in Florida.”
The harrowing experience felt and heard by the residents was vastly similar throughout many areas of the city.
“It was terrifying to listen to the sounds our house made with the intense winds,” said Capt. Jenna Swengros, the 76th Fighter Squadron intelligence officer in charge. “It sounded like I was on an old wooden ship about to sink, or the eerie sounds of the Titanic, if you will.”
The loss of power and communication around the city provided a challenge for the reservists to work through. The execution of their military skills and mental fortitude to get stuff done despite the chaos enabled them to band together to truly help their comrades, as well as the community.
“I was personally fortunate to not have extensive damage to my home, but I was trapped in my neighborhood, as were many other residents,” said Hough. “As soon as the sun provided light, I immediately grabbed my chainsaw and mini excavator and cleared a path out of the neighborhood.”
During the crisis, the group of Vanguards helped the city distribute over 86,500 bags of ice, 77,000 cases of water, 33,800 tarps, and 35,000 meals-ready-to-eat to the community at multiple points of distribution around the city. They also used crew coordination and their personal tools to clear debris from countless homes and even properties like Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Patten.
“It was probably about three days of just who was around simply helping each other by clearing roads and getting water to those in need before power crews or city workers could get to where people were,” said Master Sgt. Justin Gainey, the 476th MXS propulsion section chief. “It was nice to see so many people put into action what needed to be done.”
Destruction after a hurricane can feel like a complete war zone to many. For some reservists, it tested their fight or flight response, preparing them for situations they may come across in the future while fulfilling their military commitment or again in the civilian world.
“I was in fight mode the entire time,” said Hough. “I helped clear the lots of 10 houses and assisted linemen by pulling lines out of the streets with my ATV and skid steer. Many citizens are not able to do what my family is capable of, so we were happy to help.”
The storm left an imprint of heartache for many, as they watched their forever homes and lands they worked on daily simply crumble overnight.
“I went from terrified, to absolutely devastated over the fallen trees, to let’s get to work,” said Swengros.
The city is still healing, but just as the power eventually came back on in homes, so did the hope and fire within people to push forward and continue on despite the adversities thrown upon them.
“No one wanted this hurricane to come through, but in the devastation she left, we proved who we are and truly rose to the situation we found ourselves facing,” said Col. Brett Waring, the 476th FG commander. “I’m blown away by what this team accomplished under these circumstances. Chainsaws and generators-- those are the sounds of our people.”
Holding true to the meaning of a vanguard, these Reserve Citizen Airmen stood on the front line facing the destruction and utter darkness of this hurricane, but with resilience, determination and a strong sense of service before self, they truly overcame the obstacles it left in its chaotic path.
“When the community is hurting and hunting for leaders,” said Technical Sgt. Robert Atnip, the 476th FG client systems administrator, “it’s us. It’s who we are… and if it’s not, it’s who we need to be.”
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2024 12:52 |
| Story ID: | 485179 |
| Location: | VALDOSTA, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, The heroic Vanguards of Hurricane Helene, by SSgt Stacey Thornburg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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