An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | Feb. 1, 2010

Guard assists seven states with winter storm emergencies

By Master Sgt. Mike R. Smith National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va., - Winter storms created dangerous conditions across the nation's midsection late last week and into the weekend, and more than 560 National Guard members were called out in seven states to deal with the mess.

Before the units were activated most were placed on standby by their state governors in anticipation of the bad weather. Emergency declarations were declared by the governors of Arkansas, Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Virginia.

In Virginia, more than 200 Guardmembers were placed on state active duty with Humvees and heavy equipment to assist emergency responders. Snowfall totals of up to 14 inches were reported around the state.

Maj. Cotton Puryear, the state public affairs officer for the Virginia National Guard, reported Gov. Bob McDonnell visited the Guard's Joint Operations Center in Sandston, Va., Jan. 30 to receive a first-hand briefing from Guardmembers involved in the state-wide response.

The same storm dumped up to 13 inches of snow in North Carolina. About 10 Soldiers and Airmen were on duty in the Tarheel state assisting civilian emergency responders.

In the Midwest, Oklahoma and Arkansas Soldiers and Airmen were dealing with freezing rain that coated trees and power lines in some areas as well as dropped snow and sleet. Hundreds of auto accidents were reported. Over the weekend, up to 82,000 home were reported without power in Oklahoma.

More than 200 Oklahoma Guardmembers were placed on state active duty, delivering food and water and cots to 23 shelters and warming shelter sites throughout the state as well as generators to water plants.

Weeks before these response efforts, severe winter weather blasted northern Arizona. Thunderstorms, snow, rain and fog hampered the continued relief supply flights of Guard aircraft in reaching Indian reservations that were cutoff in northern areas of the state, the Arizona Republic reported.

"As weather across the state begins to clear and communities start to assess damage from this week's storms, Arizona emergency management officials continue to respond with life-saving resources for those affected by the consequences of heavy rain and snow," according to an Arizona Guard press release.

The Arizona Guard has 79 Soldiers and Airmen still on emergency duty there today, operating heavy equipment and aircraft including Humvees, five-ton trucks and wreckers and a CH-47 Chinook helicopter.

"The Arizona National Guard is repositioning trucks, Soldiers and helicopters to transport supplies and assist local agencies and tribal nations," Guard officials said.

A recent request from the Arizona Emergency Operations Center asked for seven additional Guardmembers from the Arizona Air Guard's 161st Air Refueling Wing to support the storm relief efforts.

The Nevada National Guard also supported Arizona during its emergency declaration with nine Soldiers, one CH-57 Chinook, two UH-60 Blackhawks, 47 generators and 37 pallets of food, water and cots.

South Dakota Guardmembers continued their support to civil authorities after a winter storm brought high winds, snow and freezing rain to their state.

The governor's office reported that nearly 12,000 households were without power, and a water delivery system serving a three-county area that includes the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation was out of operation. The water system has been returned to operation, and about 2,000 people remained without electrical power as of Jan. 29.

South Dakota National Guard today had 54 members operating heavy equipment, including several dozers and wreckers, conducting search and rescue missions and providing other support to civil authorities.

 

 

Related Articles
U.S. Air Force Chief Warrant Officer 2 Robert Peck, officer of information technology with 242nd Combat Communications Squadron, Washington Air National Guard, operates a small unmanned aircraft system during Exercise Phoenix Dawn 2025 at Saylor Creek Range near Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, May 6, 2025. The 194th Wing's inaugural class of Warrant Officers are paving the way by re-establishing the role in the Air Force and setting standards for future generations.
Washington Air Guard’s Warrant Officers Pave Way
By Airman 1st Class Jordaan Kvale, | May 29, 2025
CAMP MURRAY, Washington – The 194th Wing’s warrant officers are not only breaking new ground — they’re laying the foundation for generations to come.For the first time in more than 65 years, the Air Force reintroduced warrant...

Airmen with the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force work alongside their RTAF counterparts in small groups to finalize their respective training objectives at the Enduring Partners 2025 final planning conference in Spokane, Wash., May 20, 2025. The working groups focused on areas such as air operations, ground-controlled interception, Air Force Special Warfare, cyber, combat communication, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief medical logistics, intel, and space.
Royal Thai Air Force, Washington Guard Finalize Plans for Enduring Partners 2025
By Staff Sgt. Adeline Witherspoon, | May 29, 2025
SPOKANE, Wash. – Airmen with the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force assembled in western Washington May 19-24 to finalize plans for Enduring Partners 2025, an exercise involving RTAF and the Washington...

Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, discusses briefing details with Col. Augusto Villalaz, director of the Joint Staff for the Louisiana National Guard, during the annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, May 21, 2025. The drill helps synchronize plans and strengthen coordination across LANG’s senior leadership ahead of hurricane season.
Louisiana Guard Rehearses Emergency Plans for Hurricane Season
By Capt. Peter Drasutis, | May 28, 2025
NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard conducted its annual Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Baton Rouge May 21, uniting key personnel across multiple commands to refine...