Arkansas Nat’l Guard mobilized for state active duty winter weather

CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders mobilized to state active duty 140 Arkansas National Guardsmen to staff 28 winter weather response teams to assist Arkansas State Police to transport stranded motorists to safe areas until road condition improve.

Teams will begin patrolling no later than Noon today on interstates and highways, as directed by Arkansas State Police. Some in Northwest Arkansas may start sooner as road conditions warrant.

Each team consists of five Guardsmen, two Humvees, plus communications equipment. Teams are permitted to recover first responder emergency vehicles to a safe area, if possible. Teams are not authorized to recover privately owned vehicles.

The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will provide two teams each to Troop B in Newport, Troop D in Forrest City, Troop E in Pine Bluff, Troop F in Warren, Troop G in Hope, Troop K in Hot Springs, and Toop J in Clarksville.

The 87th Troop Command will provide two teams each to Troop C in Jonesboro and Troop I in Harrison.

The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade will provide two teams to Troop H in Fort Smith and four teams to Troop L in Lowell.

The 189th Airlift Wing will provide four teams to Troop A in Little Rock.

Additionally, 16 Guardsmen have been ordered to state active duty to provide command and control and liaison duties. Eight of the 16 will help staff the Joint Operations Center around the clock. The remaining eight will provide around-the-clock support at the brigade/wing level to provide command and control to their respective tasked units.

The Arkansas National Guard assumes support roles to augment civil authorities, where needed and directed by the Governor, to help in a crisis.