WCDO Radio News

Governor Cuomo announced that the New York Air National Guard is preparing to deploy 75 Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing to assist in the response to Hurricane Michael, which is hitting the Florida panhandle today. The Airmen from the 106th Rescue Wing will deploy to Gulfport, Mississippi with one HC-130 search and rescue aircraft, one HH-60 Pave Hawk Rescue helicopter and two inflatable rescue boats. In addition, the New York Army National Guard is preparing to deploy 2 heavy lift helicopters to Tallahassee, Florida with 20 Soldiers. The HC-130 can conduct search operations from the air and can refuel helicopters in flight, which extends the range of the helicopters.

The Regional Economic Development Council awards will include $690,000 for the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, located on the site of the original 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair held 50 years ago. Bethel Woods will use the state funding for the 50th anniversary event for next year, which is planned as a 3-day festival like the original event.

Governor Cuomo today announced that the New York National Guard is preparing to send 10 soldiers and two UH-60 Blackhawk Medivac Helicopters with 30 days of medical supplies to Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina to assist with response and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Florence. 50 additional Airmen have also been deployed from the 106th Rescue Wing of the New York Air National Guard. The state's incident management team is also ready to assist with response and recovery efforts including command and control, planning, logistics and administration activities, operational coordination, obtaining situational information and reporting, incident action planning, GIS mapping, and logistical support for ongoing response operations. 100 additional National Guard Members are on standby.