National Guard Ready for Second Storm
From Newark (Del.) Post
The Delaware National Guard is preparing to aid the state should the governor declare a state of emergency.
Should a State of Emergency be declared, the Delaware National Guard will set up a task force in each county. About 200 Guardsmen are expected to be on duty to assist by the onset of the storm; this includes any forces still on duty from Arctic Vengeance 1.
Soldiers and Airmen will report at Readiness Centers in Belvedere, Smyrna, and Georgetown by 6 a.m. Wednesday. The current plan calls for Task Force New Castle County to have 22 HMMWV’s, 10 larger trucks (known as FMTV’s), and a wrecker. TF NCC will support the Wilmington and New Castle Emergency Operations Centers. Initially, 68 Guardsmen are scheduled to support this task force.
Task Force Kent County (TF KC) will support the county EOC in Dover with 20 HMMWV’s, 6 FMTV’s, and a wrecker. For now 56 Guardsmen will comprise the TF here.
Task Force Sussex County (TF SC) will support that county’s EOC with 10 HMMWV’s, 8 FMTV’s, and a wrecker. This TF should be 40 Guardsmen.
Each task force is prepared sustain 24-hour operations. The Guard is also prepared to bring on engineering equipment and operators if needed to assist each task force.
Other Soldiers and Airmen will serve in the Joint Operations Center at the Guard’s headquarters in Pike Creek and as support staff at readiness centers.
Plans could change, depending on the needs of each county.
The Guard is expected to provide transportation support, especially for dialysis patients and for those seeking shelter; fire and Emergency Medical Service support; and law enforcement support.