RICHMOND, Va. –
The Virginia National Guard has approximately 75 personnel staged for possible winter storm response operations Jan. 16, 2022, at multiple locations across Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management requested debris reduction and high mobility transportation capabilities, so the VNG deployed personnel with chain saws for clearing fallen trees and heavy duty tactical vehicles capable of traveling through deep snow at key locations along the I-81 corridor and the northern sections of the I-95 and Route 29 corridors.
“When we have advanced notice of possible severe weather, it enables us to stage personnel at key locations for a more rapid response,” explained Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, VNG Director of the Joint Staff, when the VNG announced plans to alert personnel. “We appreciate our personnel being willing to leave their loved ones and their jobs on very short notice to help their fellow Virginians in times of need. We thank the families and employers for their continued support."
Additional Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force are providing logistics, administrative, communications and operations center support in the Richmond area.
During domestic operations, the VNG receives missions from VDEM and responds as part of a multi-agency team with other state and local agencies to provide support capabilities requests by Virginia communities. VDEM determines where capabilities are allocated, and the VNG does not respond to direct requests for assistance.
Localities looking for VNG support should make their requests to VDEM, and they determine which organization can best provide the requested assistance as they coordinate the regional and statewide response.
VNG Soldiers and Airmen recently helped open roads in Stafford County and cleared trees along power line routes in Louisa County.
Archive photos and video of the recent snow response available at the links below:
VNG Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group cleared trees along a power line route to help with electricity restoration efforts Jan. 8, 2022, in Louisa County, Virginia. After confirmation the power lines on the route were not active, Soldiers used chain saws to clear trees so Rappahannock Electric Cooperative crews could rehang the lines to help restore power in the area.
Photos and video on Flickr at
https://ngpa.us/17746.
Video on YouTube at
https://ngpa.us/17745.
Download the video in .MP4 format at
https://ngpa.us/17744.
VNG Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing use chain saws to help reduce debris and clear roads of fallen trees Jan. 7, 2022, in Stafford County, Virginia. The Airmen cleared about 25 trees to open a road that had been blocked since Tuesday.
Photos and video on Flickr at
https://ngpa.us/17734.
Video on YouTube at
https://ngpa.us/17739.
Download the video in .MP4 format at
https://ngpa.us/17738.