Guard Not Needed in Hurricane Aftermath

“Stand down,” was the order for the Tennessee National Guard last night. Bags were packed and equipment loaded, but more than 2,000 troops in the state have been told they won’t be needed in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Guard spokesman Randy Harris says it’s “a good thing” that damage was not as extensive as many feared.

While the Tennessee Guard didn’t deploy to the coast, some of the coast came to Tennessee. More than 80 different military aircraft weathered the storm at National Guard facilities in Nashville, Smyrna and Knoxville.