FARGO, N.D., - Although it was just last week that North Dakota
got its first glimpse of what's to come this winter, the North Dakota
National Guard has been planning for a month for what the season may bring.
With a look toward long-term forecasts and a close eye on mission
capabilities and equipment statuses, plans have been carefully refined to
position the Guard for emergency response, should it be needed.
The month of preparation is now officially complete. For the past four weeks,
units have been organizing call lists of Guardsmen who can respond to
particular areas with little notice. Personnel have been winterizing and
preparing a wealth of equipment for what may come, including prepositioning
graders and high-wheeled vehicles around the state.
This week launched the Guard into the potential response phase of winter
operations. If requested, the Guard can assist civilian authorities with
aerial search and rescue operations, transporting equipment and supplies by
air, removing snow, helping with temporary shelter, and providing generator
support for emergency, temporary power restoration.
"We have Guardsmen and equipment at the ready for any potential winter
emergency should we be called on by the governor to respond," said Maj. Gen.
David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. "We have trained with
civilian responders and are capable and ready to work with them as the first
military responders to any winter emergency. As always, we will be prepared
to assist the people of North Dakota."
This past winter, the North Dakota National Guard responded to several
requests for support, the largest of which came in April 2010. After a snow
and ice storm toppled about 12,000 power poles in central North Dakota,
Guardsmen worked with Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative, the Department of
Health and Department of Emergency Services to develop an assessment tool for
locating and tracking damaged poles.
Teams then headed out with clipboards, GPS devices and digital cameras to
document the location and condition of damaged poles. That information
assisted contractors and utility crews in expediently replacing the poles to
restore power. Guardsmen also helped remove the broken poles and conductors,
which were estimated to weigh more than 1,600 tons.