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The Virginia National Guard has staged approximately 40 Soldiers and Airmen for severe winter weather response duty on Jan. 6.
About 20 Soldiers are on duty in the Southwest Virginia area and ready to respond, and about 20 Airmen are mustered in the Virginia Beach area.
Both groups are equipped with chain saws to conduct debris reduction operations to clear fallen trees to open blocked roads, and they will travel in heavy-duty trucks capable of navigating through heavy snow.
“Once again our Soldiers and Airmen have quickly answered the call to be ready to assist their fellow Virginians during a potentially hazardous weather situation,” said Brig. Gen. James W. Ring, the VNG Director of the Joint Staff. “It is important our state agency partners know we are able to quickly respond when we are requested, and we owe a special thanks to our families and employers. Without their support, we couldn’t perform our mission.”
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency ahead of the Jan. 7 winter storm.
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