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NEWS | Jan. 9, 2017

Guard units kept busy by winter storms in Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia

By National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. — Frigid weather and snowstorms kept National Guard personnel busy assisting civil authorities throughout the weekend in several Southeast states.

The Alabama National Guard, which provided about 250 Soldiers and executed five missions, completed its tasks on Sunday. The missions included the activation of mobility support team locations and support to civilian authorities with ground transportation, wrecker support, ambulance support and emergency right-of-way clearance

The Virginia National Guard had approximately 260 personnel staged and ready Saturday at Guard readiness centers through the Hampton Roads area. Some residents reported a snowfall of 14 inches in that area.

Some Soldiers and vehicles were prepositioned at firehouses and other emergency services facilities in the region in order to quickly deploy if needed as part of the state's multi-agency response.

"I am incredibly proud of how quickly our forces were able to stage Friday night in order to be ready for possible missions Saturday morning, and most importantly they did it safely," said Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the adjutant general of Virginia. "Our state and local partners count on us to provide the capabilities they need in order to help the citizens of the commonwealth when faced with hazardous weather situations, and once again our Soldiers, Airmen and Virginia Defense Force troopers have demonstrated we are able to rapidly respond when we are needed. Our forces are standing by to assist local first responders in keep our fellow Virginians safe."

Virginia Guard missions include using Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks to provide transportation for first responders through snow or help evacuate people in need of shelter. Soldiers also organized into debris reduction teams with chain saws to help clear roads if needed.

Additional Soldiers, Airmen and Virginia Defense Force troopers were on duty in Sandston and Fort Pickett providing mission command, sustainment, incident management assistance and public information support.

The Virginia National Guard last served on state active duty Oct. 9-10, 2016, when more than 160 Soldiers assisted with the multi-agency state response to Hurricane Matthew in the Hampton Roads area. Soldiers driving Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks provided high water transportation and were also helped clear debris and open roads blocked by fallen trees.

In North Carolina, about 120 troops were on storm duty, according to NGB figures.

 

 

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