As of this morning, more than 3,300 Air and Army National Guard professionals in 28 states are actively supporting the COVID-19 response at the direction of their governors. Those numbers can change rapidly as states identify needs and communicate them to their National Guard.
The following States have National Guard Personnel Activated: Ark., Ariz. Calif., Colo., Del., Fla., Ga., Iowa., Ill., Kan., Ky., La., Md., Maine, Mich., Mont., N.D., N.J., N.M., N.Y., Okla., Pa., P.R., R.I. S.C., Va., Vt., Wis.
Current National Guard COVID-19 response missions include, but are not limited to: Weapons of Mass Destruction - Civil Support Teams (WMD-CSTs) Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training and sample collection; response planners; support to medical testing facilities; response liaisons and support to state Emergency Operations Centers; support to healthcare professionals - assessments, transportation; logistics support; assisting with disinfecting/cleaning of common public spaces; providing transportation support for health care providers; collecting and delivering samples; and assisting with sample administration.
"We expect multiple states to use their WMD-CSTs to assist in sample collection, donning and doffing PPE techniques and decontamination techniques," said Lt. Col. Jennifer Cope, Chief, National Guard Bureau Weapons of Mass Destruction Program Office.
The National Guard Bureau (NGB) facilitates integration and synchronization of National Guard support to civil authorities and associated planning between states, the Department of Defense and federal partners. The National Guard's Coordination Center is a 24 / 7 operation working at increased capacity in anticipation of COVID-19 requirements and to ensure unified and rapid response efforts between its state and federal partners.
"Our history as a state-controlled organization naturally led to partnerships with state and local agencies and their officials. Governors leverage our presence throughout the nation through multiagency integrated
planning and response efforts for crises like this," said Brig Gen Thomas Hatley, Vice Director, National Guard Bureau Strategy, Plans, Policy and International Affairs.
National Guard COVID-19 Response Efforts and State PAO Contact Information:
Maryland:
In Maryland, the National Guard supported medical screening and transport of passengers from the Grand Princess cruise ship. The Maryland National Guard continues to support with tent set-up at medical centers expanding their screening capabilities, health screening at the State House, and distribution of protective equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile. Over one thousand MDNG members are currently on-duty. Please attribute to Kurt Rauschenberg, Maryland National Guard public affairs officer. He can also be reached at kurt.m.rauschenberg.mil@mail.mil or (410) 576-6179.
New York:
New York National Guard has 1500 Soldiers and Airmen on mission. Troops are providing testing and administrative support personnel at five New York State-run test sites on Staten Island, and in Rockland, Westchester, Suffolk and Nassau Counties. New York Military Forces are conducting logistics support missions warehousing and distributing NYS hand sanitizer, cleaning public buildings in the New Rochelle area, and delivering food supplies in the New Rochelle area. Troops are also assisting local hospitals in erecting tents to be used as triage areas outside the building itself to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are working at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance call center in Rotterdam NY to help handle inquiries from the public. The troops are supplementing civilian staff. A New York National Guard team is working with New York State officials and the Army Corps of Engineers to identify facilities which can be converted into overflow hospital space. Please attribute to COL Richard Goldenberg, public affairs officer. He can be reached at richard.l.goldenberg.mil@mail.mil or (518) 786-6150.
The National Guards of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Colombia have a very deep bench of nearly 450,000 experienced and proven Air and Army National Guard professionals. Guard units frequently train side-by- side with state and local emergency responders, making them well-suited for domestic operations.
National Guard members work and live in every community across the nation and have a proven track record of success supporting civilian authorities after homeland emergencies. The National Guard has unique capabilities such as its Civil Support Teams and CERFPs that could provide local first responders with additional resources to combat COVID-19.
For more information regarding this press release, please send an email to the National Guard Bureau Media Operations desk at ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@mail.mil.