More than 10,000 US service members sprang into action after Florence hit - these military photos show them in the thick of it

U.S. National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Edward Snyder

Airmen with the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing, Security Forces Squadron, assist residents of the Black Creek area of Florence, South Carolina, as they evacuate their neighborhood because of rising floodwaters caused by Hurricane Florence, Sept. 17, 2018.

As Hurricane Florence, now weakened to a tropical depression, continues to wreak havoc along the East Coast, where it has claimed at least two dozen lives, more than 10,000 US service members are providing emergency assistance to those in need.

The Department of Defense, as of Saturday, had deployed a total of 13,470 personnel, 5,400 active-duty service members and 7,857 National Guard to support hurricane relief efforts. Additionally, 1,286 military assets, such as rotary and fixed-wing aircraft, high-water vehicles, and swift boats have been dispatched to assist with ongoing response operations.

"The collaboration between the Department of Defense, FEMA, and state and local partners is absolutely critical to our National Response Framework," Gen. Terrence J. O'Shaughnessy, Commander USNORTHCOM said in a statement, adding, "We remain well informed of the emergency response requirements and are ready to respond when military assistance is requested."

The following photos show the US military in action, lending a much needed hand to rescue people and even animals affected by the storm.

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Pfc. Nello Miele

U.S. Marines assigned to Combat Logistics Group 8 (CLB-8) drive through the rain to a local fire station in order to aid in evacuating victims of Hurricane Florence to shelter in Jacksonville, N.C., Sept. 15, 2018.