Soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard’s 2-151st

Soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard’s 2-151st Security and Support Aviation Battalion (SSAB) provide air support to local authorities and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division (SCEMD), during a statewide response to Hurricane Matthew, Oct. 6, 2016, Walterboro, S.C. During the evacuation phase of the response, the 2-151st SSAB deployed two LUH-72A Lakota helicopters and relative crews to the coast, in order to monitor traffic and relay information to emergency responders. Approximately 1,400 South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were activated Oct. 4, 2016. Their primary mission is supporting state and county emergency management agencies and local first responders with coastal evacuations and any services or resources needed to assist the citizens of South Carolina after Governor Nikki Haley declared a State of Emergency. Hurricane Matthew peaked as a Category 4 hurricane in the Caribbean and was projected to pass along the S.C. coast. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Roberto Di Giovine/Released)