Contact a New York Army National Guard RecruiterNYARNG Recruiting on FacebookBecome an Army National Guard OfficerBecome A Warrant OfficerContact a New York Air National Guard RecruiterJoin the Air National GuardVisit nationalguard.comJoin the Military Funeral Honors TeamJoin the New York Naval MilitiaJoin the New York GuardJobsBonusesIntegrated Primary Prevention Workforce (IPPW)JobsAwards & DecorationsSuicide PreventionSexual Assault Prevention & Response (SAPR)NYS DMNA WebEOCOffice of the State SurgeonService Record RequestLegal AffairsJ2 Joint Training & ExercisesChaplain ServicesEducation ServicesHuman ResourcesInspector GeneralR3SP ProgramSmall Arms Readiness & Training SectionYellow Ribbon Reintegration ProgramRetirement ServicesNY National Guard Immigration AssistanceG-6 Customer Service Help DeskCommand PhotosBonusesHealthcareID Card (CAC) Office LocatorNew York Patriot planState Active Duty BenefitsJobsChaplain ServicesEducation ServicesESGR AssistanceNew York Patriot planState Active Duty (SAD)Suicide PreventionMilitary Funeral HonorsArmy National Guard BonusesHealthcarePress RoomAbout DMNAAwards & DecorationsWorld Trade Center Benefits ProgramNY National Guard Immigration AssistanceNY National Guard Annual ReportsNYS DMNA Strategic Direction 2029Citizen Preparedness Training Corps
FOIL/FOIAService Record RequestNew York Counterdrug ProgramMilitary Funeral HonorsMilitary Aircraft in the AdirondacksNYARNG Environmental ComplianceNew York State BudgetNew Yorkers Volunteer websiteDMNA State & Federal ContractingNot-for-Profit Corporations Benefiting the Armed Forces of the United StatesNews StoriesNY National Guard WatchJFHQ - Guard Times MagazineJournals/BlogsNY National Guard Annual ReportsUpload MediaNYNG on DVIDSPhoto ArchiveSkibird Magazine ArchiveVideo Archive
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- New York Air National Guard personnel arrive at the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center here on Aug. 28 to become part of Task Force Long Island, which is continuing to assist Nassau and Suffolk county civil authorities with clean up and other emergency response efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irene.
Task Force Long Island is part of the nearly 2,000 Soldiers and airmen New York Governor Andrew Cuomo mobilized in response to the storm, which caused deaths and destruction in other states. Soldiers and Airmen also deployed to New York City and the Hudson Valley to assist civil authorities there.
Task Force Long Island’s advanced party deployed to the Farmingdale Armed Forces Reserve Center ahead of the storm on Aug. 27, and with the addition of its reserve on Aug. 28, the task force has now grown to about 450 Soldiers and Airmen, said Maj. Michael Fowler, the task force operations officer.
Task force members have been helping civil authorities in Nassau and Suffolk counties with a variety of operations, he explained, including assessing damages to roadways to determine where emergency efforts are needed, and using chainsaws to clear downed trees from roads.
The storm also created areas of standing water and damaged traffic lights, Fowler said. Task force members are using Humvees -- which have higher axles -- to move firefighters and paramedics through these inaccessible areas, and providing extra transportation to police agencies, which are using patrol cars to control intersections, he explained.
Task Force Long Island is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from National Guard units across the state, including military police units, Fowler stressed. Fowler, of Rochester, is also a Monroe County Sheriff.
"We’re providing them with resources to accomplish their missions, and putting extra sets of eyes on the roads," Fowler said. "This is a perfect mission for MPs." The task force also has Soldiers and airmen standing by to help with medical evacuations, he added.
DMNA Press Releases
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
Olean Times Herald -- Wed, 21 Oct 2026 Emergency preparedness program Monday at Little Valley Fire Department LITTLE VALLEY New York National Guard members will be sharing tips on how to cope with a disaster and then recover quickly during a special program at 11 a.m. Monday at the Little Valley... (more)
The Worcester Guardian -- Wed, 21 Oct 2026 Worcester resident, former police sergeant takes command of Army National Guard division Brig. Gen. Richard Cipro, a Worcester State graduate and Iraq War veteran who spent more than three decades with the Worcester Police Department, leads approximately 15,000 soldiers across... (more)
Rome Sentinel -- Tue, 20 Oct 2026 Several local airmen receive promotions LATHAM Several local residents have been promoted in the New York Air National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership, according to an announcement... (more)
NYNG on GKO
