LOUISVILLE, Ky. —

The Kentucky Army National Guard spent the weekend in Louisville honing its emergency-response capabilities, using helicopter drills and realistic scenarios to prepare for floods, tornadoes, and other crises across the commonwealth.

“So floods, tornadoes, things like that. It gives us the best opportunity to get prepared to respond to any in-state emergency that happens so we can support the commonwealth,” said Jacob Conner, the battalion S-3 operations officer.

Training centered on aviation-supported missions, with Black Hawk and Lakota helicopters simulating a range of disaster conditions to ensure protocols run smoothly when lives are on the line. Conner said that exercises are designed to surface and solve real-world friction points.

“Communications issues are alw

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