Guardians in the storm: MDNG works across state with civilian authorities in response to Hurricane Sandy
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSHG8edU7WY” align=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500053193991{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”][vc_column_text]
Video by Sgt. Regina Glott, 29th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”MDNG supports communities, prepares for Hurricane Sandy”][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1500053713274{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1500054272300{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]
Article by 1st Lt. Kristofer Baumgartner, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The Maryland National Guard prepared to support its neighbors across the state, Oct. 28, as it prepositioned Soldiers, Airmen and equipment in advance of Hurricane Sandy’s anticipated landfall late Monday, Oct. 29. The weather phenomenon, called a “perfect storm” by some, was expected to combine a rare mixture of a tropical hurricane from the east and an early winter storm from the west. The resulting effects were expected to dump several feet of snow in West Virginia and Virginia and inundate the rest of the Mid-Atlantic region with up to 12 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. More than 250 Guard Soldiers and Airmen were called to State Active Duty, and another 4,250 were available statewide if needed.
“Many of our personnel and equipment are prepositioned, allowing our emergency managers to tailor the state’s response by putting exactly what we need to handle a situation exactly where we need it,” said Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins, adjutant general of Maryland. “This is cost effective, and it ensures a quick response and effective use of people and equipment.”
The Guard has the necessary equipment such as trucks, “humvees” and helicopters to move troops and supplies in and around the state if affected by a hurricane. The Guard’s generators and maintainers also served a significant role, as Marylanders to experienced multiple days of power outages as the storm lingered over the region. The Maryland National Guard is no stranger to natural disaster response missions. In addition to activating stateside for Hurricane Irene in August 2011 and Hurricane Isabel in 2003, the Maryland National Guard assisted with the relief efforts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The Guard also helped the state dig out from two massive snowstorms, which blanketed the region in early 2010.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”Maryland National Guard: Mission Complete”][vc_raw_html css=”.vc_custom_1500053657832{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1500054272300{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 0px !important;}”]
Article by 1st Lt. Kristofer Baumgartner, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The cost and devastation from Super Storm Sandy is still being calculated as the Maryland National Guard returns to normal operations this week. At the peak of the storm response efforts, the Maryland Guard had 116 vehicles and 800 personnel dispatched throughout the state. The Guard also accepted and completed 41 missions from 17 counties, Baltimore City, Annapolis and Ocean City.
“Although the Guard missions related to this particular storm have been completed, we are always on call to assist our neighbors,” said Maj. Gen. James A. Adkins, adjutant general of Maryland. “The Maryland National Guard is always ready.”
The Maryland National Guard prepositioned many of its Soldiers and Airmen at the 32 readiness centers around the state in advance of the storm. Prepositioning the Guard’s assets helps emergency managers tailor the state’s response by putting exactly what they need to handle a situation exactly where they need it. This is cost effective and ensures a quick response, making effective use of people and equipment, according to Adkins. The “super storm,” which began to blow into the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions on Monday, Oct. 29, tested the Maryland National Guard’s response capabilities over a variety of diverse missions.
As the storm hooked west, creating a massive storm surge during high tide, it collided with a winter storm system over West Virginia and the westernmost counties of Maryland. The Maryland National Guard quickly found itself responding to the flooding from the Eastern Shore to Baltimore and beyond by helping with evacuations and moving food, water and equipment while augmenting first responders to assist with their transportation needs. At the same time, the massive snowfall in Garrett and Allegany Counties required immediate attention, and the Maryland National Guard was there, as well.
The Maryland National Guard sent dozens of vehicles and personnel to western Maryland to assist first responders there. By Saturday, Nov. 3, the Guard was transporting and dispensing fuel, food and vital supplies to the region, helping their neighbors dig out from more than 30 inches of snow. As Marylanders were recovering from the effects of the storm, New Jersey and New York requested assistance from neighboring states.
On Saturday, Nov. 3, a Maryland National Guard C-27J cargo aircraft crew flew power generators and other equipment to help New Yorkers get through the days to come. During the recovery efforts the Guard mobilized the 115th Military Police Battalion with more than 70 Soldiers leaving for a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. With currently 300 Soldiers performing their battlefield functions overseas, the Guard still has the capability to help our neighbors here at home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]