CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The Colorado National Guard is helping the State Emergency Operations Center and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) convert the Colorado Convention Center in Denver into a 2,000-bed medical shelter.
About 50 Soldiers will assist with warehouse operations such as tracking, inventory, and unloading of equipment.
The CONG transported U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, USACE commanding general and 54th U.S. Army chief of engineers, by Black Hawk helicopter for site visits at the CCC and The Ranch Events Complex, in Loveland, a second location identified by the state for conversion to a medical shelter.
“Our Colorado National Guard warriors are helping our state and federal partners to build a medical shelter that will alleviate stress on our medical infrastructure,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh, the adjutant general of Colorado. “Our combined efforts will save lives.”
More than 250 Colorado National Guard members have already been mobilized to help the State Emergency Operations Center and the City and County of Denver to shelter people in Denver experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The CONG is also providing planners to support local emergency operation centers in other Colorado communities the state has designated.
All of these members have been medically screened and are on Title 32 federally funded orders, while operating under the authority of Gov. Jared Polis.
Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen are still serving in their full-time roles supporting the CONG operation from Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial.