RICHMOND, Va. –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers ended their missions in Southwest Virginia Feb. 23, 2025, after deploying to the area Feb. 14 to assist local emergency managers supporting citizens impacted by severe weather and power outages. The Soldiers were equipped with heavy duty trucks to assist with transportation and food and water distribution as well as chainsaws to help clear debris.
About 60 VNG Soldiers and Airmen conducted 22 missions Feb. 14-23 in Southwest Virginia, distributing more than 3,000 cases of water and more than 1,480 cases of food, assisting with the evacuation of 94 civilians and 27 pets and conducting nearly 160 welfare checks. Soldiers also cleared 15 trees and other debris.
“This is what the National Guard is all about,” said Brig. Gen. Todd Hubbard, Virginia National Guard Director of then Joint Staff. “Our Soldiers and Airmen were in the right place at the right time to augment local emergency response efforts to help our fellow Virginians in a time of need. I am really proud of how adaptable, flexible and resilient our personnel have been in rapidly changing situations. I want to once again thank our families and employers for their continued support which is so critical to mission success.”
The VNG first staged approximately 65 Soldiers Feb. 11 at facilities along the I-95 and Route 29 corridors as well as the Southwest Virginia area in order to support the response to winter weather which was expected to impact Virginia. When the weather threat reduced, approximately 50 Soldiers staged in Warrenton, Bowling Green and Rocky Mount stood down Feb. 13 while Soldiers in Southwest Virginia remained on duty.
Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters were also on station in the Southwest Virginia area and available for missions if needed. The VNG Black Hawk crews and Chesterfield Fire & Emergency Medical Services rescue technicians form the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team to provide rotary wing aviation hoist capabilities and aerial rescue evacuation.
About 45 Soldiers staged in Cedar Bluff and Abingdon deployed Feb. 14 into Pulaski, Grayson and Carroll Counties to provide support while an additional team of 20 Airmen mustered in Virginia Beach in order to deploy into the region and provide additional capabilities.
With another round of heavy snow expected, the VNG repositioned troops, bought additional personnel on duty and staged about 65 Soldiers and Airmen Feb. 19 in Bowling Green, Sandston, Lynchburg, Emporia, Virginia Beach and the Eastern Shore. Approximately 25 Soldiers remained on duty supporting response operations in Southwest Virginia. All troops were ready for missions with transportation, commodity distribution and debris reduction capabilities.
“Virginia localities have robust response capabilities, but they count on the Virginia National Guard to provide additional resources when needed,” Hubbard said. “Our Soldiers quickly and safely moved to their staging locations on very short notice so they are ready to assist when the winter weather hits. We continue to get great administrative and logistics support from the Virginia Defense Force, and we also owe a special thanks to our families and employers for everything they do to make sure our personnel can conduct the mission.”
From Feb. 9-24, the VDF deployed five teams, each with an administrative specialist and logistics specialist, to embed with VNG Soldiers and Airmen and rotated to facilities in Warrenton, Lynchburg, Emporia, Sandston, Virginia Beach, Exmore, Bowling Green, Rocky Mount, Cedar Bluff, Abingdon, and Wytheville. VDF personnel also provided communication support at the VNG’s Joint Force Headquarters in Richmond.
VDF teams safely drove more than 6,500 miles, managed cargo valued at approximately $47,000 and processed nearly 150 VNG Soldiers and Airmen on to state active duty. VDF logistics specialists delivered chainsaws and protective equipment, coordinated for lodging and meal support at the staging locations and sourced supplies locally as needed. Nearly 25 VDF personnel supported the operation over 16 days.
Additional Soldiers and Airmen provided logistics and maintenance support for the response teams at their staging locations and mission command support at the VNG’s Headquarters.