ARLINGTON, Va., - The National Guard responded to severe weather in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Arizona on Monday.
In South Dakota - where National Guard officials said about 6,000 people were without power during strong winter storms with high wind, snow and freezing rain - more than 40 Guardmembers set up generators at the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation, worked to reopen roads and prepared for search and rescue operations.
South Dakota's response included bulldozers and recovery vehicles staged in three cities, and personnel called up for snow removal and to tackle ice accumulations on roads and power lines.
In North Dakota, Gov. John Hoeven issued a snow emergency order activating all state resources, including the National Guard, in response to severe weather that began last week and is forecasted to continue into this week.
Civilian media reported about 2,500 people without power. Travel was said to be virtually impossible in parts of the state, and the N.D. Division of Homeland Security issued a "no travel advisory."
"Our number one concern is the safety of North Dakotans. We urge take the following steps to ensure their safety," said Greg Wilz, the director of the North Dakota Division of Homeland Security.
Members of the North Dakota National Guard assisted with aerial surveillance of power lines. Storms downed lines and poles and the state remained under a blizzard warning. It also prepared for search and rescue operations, snow removal, temporary shelter requirements and other missions, such as providing high-wheel vehicles for transportation or helping restore power, said Staff Sgt. Billie Jo Lorius, deputy public affairs officer.
In Minnesota, 10 Army Guardsmen were activated to support warming centers in four counties across the state.
The winter storm first hit the region Jan. 19.
In Arizona - with northern counties experiencing similar storms to the Dakotas and forecasters predicting more to come midweek - about 75 Guardmembers transported water and prepositioned trucks, including three five-ton trucks, one heavy equipment wrecker, five humvees and about 12 other medium terrain vehicles.
One UH-60 from the Arizona Guard with four Guardmembers are on duty to evacuate personnel and transport water.
The Nevada National Guard sent CH-47 Chinook and two additional UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to delivery relief supplies and conduct medical evacuations if needed in flooded communities around Flagstaff and northern Arizona.
The Navajo Indian Reservation was one area where Arizona officials anticipated aerial operations. Civilian media were reporting that the Navajo Nation president asked for assistance after snow trapped reservation residents in their homes. The National Guard assisted with the delivery of medicine, food, fuel and hay to isolated Navajo and Hopi lands.
Arizona Guard leaders said the operation might continue for up to two weeks.
While Guardmembers respond to the president for national emergencies and overseas operations, state governors call their Guardmembers up as needed.
(Sgt. Monette Wesolek of the Arzona National Guard, Bill Prokopyk of the North Dakota National Guard and Maj. Brendan Murphy of the South Dakota National Guard contributed to this report.)