Virginia National Guard Responds to New Snowstorm

By Cotton Puryear

DoD News, Defense Media Activity

SANDSTON, Va., Feb. 23, 2015 – The Virginia National Guard deployed nearly 20 soldiers for duty in Wise and Highland counties yesterday to assist local emergency response officials after another round of heavy snow and frigid cold hit the commonwealth, officials said.

Ten Guard members from the Cedar Bluff, Virginia-based 1033rd Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion were on duty supporting the Wise County sheriff’s office. Soldiers transported one person in need of medical attention who could not be reached by emergency services personnel and also delivered water to two different locations. Two Guard members were assigned to duty in the county’s emergency operations center.

Heavy Snow

Seven Virginia Army National Guard members from the Staunton, Virginia-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were on standby in the town of Monterey in Highland County. Local emergency services officials estimate more than 20 inches of snow fell in the region over the last 48 hours. The Guard members will provide transport for emergency services personnel by Humvee or light medium tactical vehicle if they are called out to a rural area where roads have not been cleared.

Virginia National Guard aviators were also on standby for possible aerial reconnaissance missions.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency Feb. 16 and authorized up to 300 Virginia National Guard personnel who could be brought on state active duty for possible response operations, and more than 125 personnel were staged and ready at locations across the commonwealth by that evening. The soldiers, airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force were ready to support the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Transportation and other state and local emergency response organizations.

Tangier Island Aerial Supply Mission

McAuliffe also authorized rotary-wing aviators from the Sandston, Virginia-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment to deliver food, mail and medical supplies Feb. 16 to residents of Tangier Island. The 1.2-square-mile island, located in the Chesapeake Bay, had been unable to receive routine seaport deliveries due to icy conditions.

About 400 National Guard personnel were still on winter-related duty in Massachusetts, Tennessee and Kentucky, according to a summary from the National Guard Bureau.