The Virginia National Guard says they have staged about 80 soldiers and 30 vehicles for state emergency support duty Aug. 3, 2020, at multiples locations in the eastern portion of the state.
According to a press release, soldiers are ready to assist local authorities to respond to possible impacts from Tropical Storm Isaias in the Eastern Shore, Hampton Roads and Peninsula areas as well as at key locations along the I-95 corridor.
The soldiers are staged with Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks for high water transportation and also have chain saws for debris reduction.
“Whether we are mobilizing 40 Soldiers on the Eastern Shore for possible impacts from a tropical storm, assisting with Virginia’s COVID-19 response or staging 1,500 Soldiers across the commonwealth like we did for Hurricane Florence, the Virginia National Guard continues to demonstrate it can rapidly respond with the assistance requested by Virginia localities,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “Our men and women leave their families and their jobs on short notice so they can help keep their fellow citizens safe, and I thank them for how quickly they responded to the call of duty. We get a tremendous sense of pride being part of the multi-agency state team and making a difference in our communities.”
Governor Ralph Northam declared a state of emergency July 31 authorizing the VNG’s mobilization as well as other state agencies to organize resources and deploy people and equipment to assist in response and recovery efforts.
Isaias was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm, but it still poses a weather threat to the commonwealth.
The National Weather Service reported at least two radar-confirmed tornadoes near Maryland and Virginia.
Tropical Storm #Isaias Advisory 29A: Center of Isaias Moving Across Southeastern Virginia. Strong Winds. Heavy Rainfall. And the Threat of Tornadoes Will Spread Northward Along the Mid-Atlantic Coast This Morning. https://t.co/VqHn0u1vgc
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) August 4, 2020
“Hurricane Isaias is a serious storm, and current predictions indicate that it may impact parts of Virginia as early as this weekend,” Northam said. “This state of emergency will ensure localities and communities have the assistance they need to protect the safety of Virginians, particularly as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. I encourage Virginians to take all necessary precautions, monitor local weather forecasts, and stay alert.”
Individuals impacted by severe weather and in need of assistance should contact local authorities or 911 in cases of emergency.
Localities looking for National Guard support should send requests to their local and regional emergency management coordinators, and VDEM ensures the appropriate organization provides the resources in a timely manner.
“It is very important that we get our personnel and equipment staged and ready at the right locations before the severe weather hits so we are able to rapidly respond if needed,” Brig. Gen. James Ring, Virginia National Guard director of the joint the staff said.
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