SANDSTON, Va. — More than 125 Virginia National Guard personnel have been on alert and ready for possible winter storm response operations at locations across Virginia Tuesday morning.
After Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Monday afternoon, Guard personnel begin moving into place and were staged and ready late Monday evening in order to support Virginia State Police, Virginia Department of Transportation or other state and local emergency response organizations.
The majority of the personnel are Soldiers from various units of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The Guard has been authorized to bring up to 300 personnel on state active duty and could alert more personnel Tuesday if needed.
Potential missions for the guardsmen include assisting stranded motorists, transportation of healthcare professionals and the seriously ill to medical treatment facilities, transportation of personnel or equipment to potential heating or sheltering locations and downed tree removal.
The Virginia National Guard receives its missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.
“If you need assistance because of the winter storm, please call 911 or your local dispatcher and let them know you need help and do not contact the Virginia National Guard directly,” said Col. James Zollar, director of joint operations for the Virginia National Guard. “They will determine what emergency services are best suited to assist you, and they will contact us if it appropriate for us to take action.”
Virginia Guard personnel last served on state active duty for hazardous weather response in February 2014.
