RICHMOND, Va. –
Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are staged and ready Jan. 31, 2026, primarily in the Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore regions, to support the response to snow expected to impact parts of Virginia.
Approximately 130 VNG personnel are on duty, including response teams, command and control, administrative and logistics resources and other support elements. Members of the Virginia Defense Force and Virginia Department of Military Affairs employees are also supporting response operations.
VNG crews will coordinate with regional emergency managers in their staging locations to conduct missions and provide assistance as needed beginning Jan. 31. VNG troops are organized in multifunctional teams capable of reducing debris to help clear roads and power line routes and move commodities. Troops also have heavy duty tactical trucks capable of traveling through deep snow or high water. Black Hawk helicopters with rescue hoist capabilities are also alerted and on standby.
“For the second time in as many weeks, our Soldiers and Airmen are ready to help their communities as heavy snow is forecasted for parts of Virginia,” said Brig. Gen. Todd H. Hubbard, VNG Director of the Joint Staff. “Our personnel have once again responded quickly and safely, and stand ready to support emergency response operations as needed and help keep Virginians safe.”
VNG personnel responded to a statewide winter weather event Jan. 24 - 27, 2026. More than 300 Soldiers, Airmen and VDF members responded across Virginia to stage for possible response operations, such as a commodity distribution mission in Marion, Virginia. There, VNG Soldiers helped distribute cases of water and ready-to-eat meals. Photos from that storm’s response can be seen at https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCHEhP.
During domestic operations, the VNG responds as part of a multi-agency team to provide support capability requests submitted through the Virginia Emergency Support Team by Virginia localities.
The VNG cannot respond to direct requests for support. Localities looking for VNG support should make their requests to the VEST, and they determine which organization can best provide the requested assistance as they coordinate the regional and statewide response.