RICHMOND, Va. –
The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 70 Soldiers Jan. 5, 2024, at VNG facilities at key locations along the I-95 and Route 29 corridors and Southwest Virginia in order to support the response to severe winter weather expected to impact Virginia. The personnel are ready to conduct missions and will link up with local emergency managers to provide assistance if needed. VNG troops are organized in chain saw teams capable of reducing debris to help clear roads and power line routes, and troops will also have heavy duty tactical trucks capable of traveling through deep snow.
An additional 20 Soldiers and members of the Virginia Defense Force are on duty to provide logistics, maintenance, and administrative support for the response teams at their staging locations. Soldiers and Airmen are also providing mission command support at the VNG's Joint Force Headquarters in Richmond.
"It is important to get our troops and equipment in place before the severe weather hits so they are able to quickly respond if needed," said Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, Virginia National Guard director of the joint staff. "We appreciate how quickly and safely our personnel responded to the alert notification and are ready to help their fellow Virginians. As always, we need to thank our families and employers for their support which is so critical to being able to accomplish the mission."
Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a State of Emergency Jan. 3 in advance the incoming winter weather, and the declaration authorized state active duty for the VNG and VDF.
During domestic operations, the VNG responds as part of a multi-agency team with other state and local agencies to provide support capability requests submitted through the Virginia Emergency Support Team by Virginia localities.
Localities looking for VNG support should make their requests to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, and VDEM determines which organization can best provide the requested assistance as they coordinate the regional and statewide response.
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