RICHMOND -- 200 soldiers and airmen of the Virginia National Guard have been put on state active duty for possible post-storm recovery operations in Hampton Roads.
Soldiers from the Hampton-based 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Brigade Combat Team and Airmen from the Virginia Beach-based 203d RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron will be providing personnel for the operation.
The will begin staging Wednesday evening and will be ready Thursday morning if and when calls for assistance are made.
We are staging personnel, vehicles and equipment in Hampton and Norfolk to support missions such as high-water transport and light debris removal," said Col. Jeff Hice, joint operations officer for the Virginia Guard. "The key to rapid response for this event is having personnel in place and ready to respond before the hurricane moves into the region."
The activation came after Gov. Bob McDonnell declared a state of emergency Wednesday morning. The declaration authorizes the Adjutant General of Virginia to call up those resources he thinks are necessary to ensure it can fulfill its mission in the event the storm impacts Virginia.
Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management said, "Coastal residents could experience power outages and blocked roads, so they should be ready to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours." He said t
here is a risk for moderate flooding Thursday night throuh Friday afternoon, with tides 3-4 feet above normal
