Indiana National Guard gets ready to help the military and people after Hurricane Ian

Shelbyville, Indiana — The aviation brigade of the 38th Infantry Division will depart from Shelbyville on Thursday morning with soldiers, mechanics, and flight crews from the Indiana National Guard to assist Florida with its hurricane Ian recovery efforts.

Florida was the storm’s last destination on Wednesday afternoon.

The two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and the personnel will supply supplies and conduct reconnaissance flights, according to a news release from the Indiana National Guard on Wednesday afternoon.

The Guard was called to help via the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a framework for resource sharing across states.

According to the Indiana National Guard, it participated in two hurricane relief operations in 2017 in the wake of Harvey in Texas and Irma in Florida, as well as another one in 2018 in the wake of Florence in North Carolina. The Guard was also requested to assist Indiana residents during a snowfall in February.

The soldiers are expected to leave from the aviation flying facility on North Michigan Road of the Shelbyville National Guard Armory on Thursday morning.