WV Deployment Hurricane Milton

Brigadier General David Cochran, Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General for Air, encourages members of FSRT ahead of their departure for the impending Severe Weather Response mission in Florida. Fatality Search and Rescue Teams (FSRT) are multi-capable airmen trained and certified to respond to a wide range of disasters and hazards, recover the remains of the deceased, and reunite the remains of those lost with their loved ones.(U.S. Air National Guard photo by,2d Lt DeJuan Haley)

WV Deployment Hurricane Milton

Members of the deploying Fatality Search and Rescue Team (or “FSRT”) gathered with leadership of the West Virginia National Guard after receiving parting words and ahead of their Severe Weather Response mission. Fatality Search and Rescue Teams are multi-capable airmen trained and certified to respond to a wide range of disasters and hazards, recover the remains of the deceased, and reunite the remains of those lost with their loved ones. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. De-Juan Haley)

WV Deployment Hurricane Milton

Major General Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, imparts words of wisdom and encouragement to the members of the 130th Airlift Wing’s FSRT. Fatality Search and Rescue Teams (FSRT) are multi-capable airmen trained and certified to respond to a wide range of disasters and hazards, recover the remains of the deceased, and reunite the remains of those lost with their loved ones. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. De-Juan Haley)

WV Deployment Hurricane Milton

Lieutenant Colonel Anna Sherrod, Commander of the 130th Airlift Wing’s Force Support Squadron, briefs members of the FSRT before the day’s larger meeting. Fatality Search and Rescue Teams (FSRT) are multi-capable airmen trained and certified to respond to a wide range of disasters and hazards, recover the remains of the deceased, and reunite the remains of those lost with their loved ones. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. De-Juan Haley)

West Virginia Air National Guard prepares to deploy South for Severe Weather Response Mission

Published Oct. 9, 2024
By 1st Lt. Samantha Brown

CHARLESTON, W.Va. --

Members of the130th Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Rescue Team gathered together to receive parting words from West Virginia National Guard Leadership as they prepared to deploy to Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton on October 9th, 2024.

Hurricane Milton was listed Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane after a significant amount of time listed as a Category 5. Wind speeds have been recorded of up to 165 mph.

Nearly 5,000 Army and Air National Guard members from 19 states, including those located within and surrounding the disaster zone, are actively engaged in response and recovery efforts in North Carolina during the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit the southeastern United States in late September, 2024. A similar operation has been stood up in preparation of Hurricane Milton.

FSRT will depart first for Georgia, then to Florida, for a 10-day mission to help execute the logistics, community support and assistance ahead of, and in response to, Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The National Guard, as a whole, prioritizes the preservation of life by conducting search and rescue, highwater rescues and distributing food and water when deployed to assist in response to natural disasters. In alignment, the primary mission of West Virginia’s FSRT is fatality search and recovery. The members of this select team specialize in helping families find closure by reuniting them with their loved ones’ remains, a mission that requires execution with the utmost care and precision.

“The team is going down to support the efforts and assist with Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton with the damage and devastation that will occur, and has occurred, already," said Tech Sgt. Tyler Mullins, a member of the 130th Airlift Wing’s FSRT.

Guard Members support state and local emergency management officials in response to requests for assistance, distribution of aid, and recovery operations for those affected by the storms, mobilizing at the request of state and local emergency managers.

The 130th Airlift Wing’s FSRT is an 11-person team staged in Charleston, W.Va. The team has approximately 24 to 72 hours to respond to a myriad of disasters. Noting the rapid action ahead of mobilization, Mullins recalled, “You know, we sign on the dotted line to serve our state, serve our country, serve our community and neighboring states, even our not neighboring states… and when they ask for help, we answer that call.”

“This team, within a moment’s notice in the group chat, was like ‘Yes. Send me, send me, send me,’ and I was no different,” said Mullins.

2nd Lt. Nicholas Kauff, Officer in Charge of the FSRT, echoed this sentiment, saying of the deploying team, “We’re ready. Ultimately, we are there to help the people. That’s what we want to do. That’s what we’re trained to do. And the morale here is high. We’re ready to go.”

Throughout their mission, the Airmen are monitored by medical professionals and supported by religious affairs and behavioral health staff in order to effectively and empathetically execute their mission.