Delaware Guard prepared to support during winter storm
The Delaware National Guard, in coordination with the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, will preposition personnel and vehicles in all three counties tonight in preparation for the latest winter storm.
“Current predictions call for heaviest snow in the central part of the state, but prepositioning troops and equipment throughout gives us the ability to respond wherever needed.” said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, adjutant general, Delaware National Guard.
Approximately 150 soldiers and airmen are on standby and ready to be in place tonight to support the citizens of Delaware. The majority are vehicle operators and typical support missions include: transport of Delawareans to safety, transport of police and other first responders, transport of medical workers to hospitals, and assisting stranded motorists. We also can provide traffic control, access control points, and medical personnel should medical shelters be operational.
They have a total of 20 HMMWV’s (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle), four LMTVs (Light Medium Tactical Vehicle), and a wrecker available immediately, and more available on call. The vehicles and personnel are located at the Stern Armory in Newport, the Smryna Readiness Center, and the Georgetown Armory. The distribution of vehicles and personnel was determined through coordination with Delaware’s first responders.
In addition to vehicle operators, they have command staff in each operational armory and liaison officers ready to support Emergency Operations Centers in all three counties and the city of Wilmington. The Delaware National Guard Joint Emergency Operations Center is manned around the clock, until the event is complete.
On the Air National Guard Base, teams from civil engineering, maintenance and operations are on duty, clearing taxi ways and ramps to ensure they maintain the ability to launch and recover aircraft. Firefighters and security police serve 24-7.
The Delaware National Guard has 2,750 soldiers and airmen. Although they have several hundred deployed overseas, they have the capability to support this snow event with as many troops as needed.
For more information contact Lt. Col. Len Gratteri at 302-540-0134 , leonard.a.gratteri.mil@mail.mil or Staff Sgt. Wendy McDougall at 302-270-0720 wendy.m.mcdougall.mil@mail.mil.
