RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Dakota Army National Guard was called up to provide support in response to the recent winter storm that blanketed the region with snow and wind on March 23-24, causing no travel advisories and the closure of Interstate 90 from Wyoming to Wall.
Six members of the National Guard were placed on state active duty orders to provide assistance to clear under passes and service roads in the Sturgis area along I-90.
The Guard also provided two snow blowers, one Humvee, and one pick-up truck in order to plow snow to gain access to adjacent service roads to the west toward the Wyoming border.
The 109th Task Force located in Rapid City took the lead in coordinating personnel and equipment from the 155th Engineer Company and Joint Forces Headquarters. The task force responded to the call that came from the SDNG Joint Operations Center in Rapid City in the early morning of March 23.
Lt. Col. James Webster, the SDNG director of military support, said: "The National Guard remains ready to support the state in the event that follow-on missions are needed."
It appears that despite the recent blizzard and flooding in parts of the state, "National Guard units remain ready to support local emergency managers in case the state needs assistance," said Webster.
"Units under the direction of the 147th Task Force are planning to pre-position heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks (HEMTTs), wreckers, palletized loading system trucks and bridging boat assets in the Aberdeen area in anticipation of flooding in the Columbia area," said Webster. "It just goes to show that communities near and far are willing to pull together to aid one another in times of need."
Several Guard members remain on duty to assist in recovery operations and expect to be released by March 26.