ARLINGTON, Va., - Schools are closing, weekend activities are being
cancelled and the federal government will shut down four hours early today,
but the National Guard is on duty in Virginia, Maryland and the District of
Columbia in anticipation of a major winter storm.
About 660 Guardsmen have been activated for a storm that is expected to dump
up to 28 inches of snow and bring high winds to the northern and western
parts of Virginia and then continue north up the East Coast this weekend.
"This storm will bring severe weather to many parts of Virginia," said
Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. "As the storm affects your area, please stay off
the roads and contact local authorities if help is needed."
McDonnell declared a state of emergency Feb. 3, and the state's Department of
Military Affairs is staging more than 400 personnel from the Virginia Army
and Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force at key locations in the
commonwealth.
If needed, the DMA will bring an additional 100 personnel on duty when the
weather picture and state and local support requirements become more clear,
according to a press release from the state.
"We are moving DMA personnel into position (Feb. 4) in order to be on
standby for possible missions to assist state and local emergency response
organizations with rescue and transportation operations," said Col. Rob
McMillin, a Virginia National Guard joint operations officer.
Personnel were expected to be in place by late on Feb. 4 and ready for duty
this morning, Guard officials reported.
McMillin stressed that the Virginia National Guard receives their missions
through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist state and
local emergency response organizations and is not able to respond to direct
support requests from the public.
"During the winter storm in December 2009, we received calls directly from
citizens, and we are not able to respond to those requests." McMillin said.
"We urge people who need assistance to make a request through their local
dispatcher or 911 service, and that request will be forwarded to the DMA when
appropriate."
McMillin said the initial plan is to place Virginia National Guard personnel
with Humvees on duty at locations throughout the commonwealth.
This is the third time since the middle of December the DMA has called up
Guardsmen for weather-related duty. The DMA had nearly 250 Soldiers, Airmen
and members on duty throughout southern Virginia on Jan. 29 and 700 on duty
after a storm that began Dec. 18, 2009.
In Maryland, the National Guard has prepositioned its forces and equipment to
provide support to civil authorities when Gov. Martin O'Malley declares a
state emergency later today.
"The Maryland National Guard always stands ready to support the governor and
the citizens of Maryland," said Army Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, the state
public affairs officer. "We provide essential, lifesaving services when local
and state response capabilities are overwhelmed, including the capability to
provide transportation, shelter, food, water, and medical support.
He added that the National Guard has 34 armories across the state that will
also be used to support this ongoing operation.
In the District of Columbia, Mayor Andrew Fenty declared a snow emergency
this morning. The National Guard will provide 12 Humvees and 60 soldiers to
help implement the district's Snow Emergency Management Plan.
In Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell is prepared to declare a state of emergency,
his spokesman said. If needed, the Delaware National Guard will be mobilized.
In South Dakota, 16 Guardsmen are still on duty helping to re-establish road
and utility infrastructure and conduct search and rescue operations as
required by local authorities.
The state experienced strong winter storms with high winds, snow, and
freezing rain on Jan. 23, and more than 2,000 residents are currently without
power throughout the state.
National Guard missions normally performed during snow operations include:
assisting local law enforcement with transportation and evacuation;
distribution of supplies, road clearing and snow removal; search and rescue;
security/law enforcement airspace coordination; aircraft support and patient
evacuations; airspace coordination; and sheltering assistance.
(Army Maj. Cotton Puryear of the Virginia National Guard contributed to this
report.)