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More than 5,300 National Guardsmen are supporting local response and recovery efforts across 15 states in the wake of Winter Storm Fern.
The storm brought significant snow and ice to the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and the South.
Gen. Steven Nordhaus, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, commended Guard personnel ahead of the storm, emphasizing their readiness.
“[I’m] proud of our incredible National Guardsmen who are stepping up once again,” he stated in a post shared on his official social media account. “The National Guard is Always Ready, Always There.”
In Washington, D.C., which received several inches of snow topped by large amount of sleet that closed the government for two days, District of Columbia Guard officials said their focus was the “safety and welfare of those who live, work, and visit the District.”
Of particular concern are the city’s unhoused, as temperatures remain frigid.
In Arkansas and North Carolina, Guard units assisted state police on ice-covered roads, rescuing stranded motorists, supporting traffic management and operating military vehicles to recover disabled vehicles. Guard members also conducted welfare checks and transported first responders to ensure continuity of emergency services.
“We used our high-mobility vehicles to pull those individuals [stuck on the roadside] back onto the road and get them on their way,” said Army Lt. Col. Ellis Parks, with the North Carolina Guard.
Soldiers and Airmen with the Tennessee Guard continue to support state, county and local emergency responders across Middle and West Tennessee.
“Our Guardsmen have been assisting our fellow citizens since the storm hit,” said Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, the adjutant general of Tennessee. “We made preparations before the winter weather arrived and have been using our vehicles, equipment and skills to help with recovery efforts. Our Joint Operations Center has been providing 24-hour assistance.”
Mississippi, where snow is relatively rare and usually light, activated 500 Guardsmen across the state to conduct general support, fueling operations and aerial logistics packaging of food and other needed supplies.
Delaware deployed more than 100 Guard members statewide, while Kentucky activated over 2,000 personnel to address hazardous weather conditions.
In Maryland and several other states, units pre-positioned vehicles and equipment to accelerate response efforts.
“The safety and well-being of Maryland residents is our top priority,” said Army Brig. Gen. Craig Hunter, director of the Maryland Guard Joint Staff. “By preparing our personnel and equipment before the winter storm, we can respond immediately to requests for assistance from local jurisdictions and help ensure our communities remain safe during this weather.”
Guard officials said Soldiers and Airmen will remain on duty helping communities recover from severe winter weather as long as they are needed.
In total, National Guard units from 14 states and the District of Columbia were activated in response to Winter Storm Fern: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Six additional states have Guardsmen on alert for potential support as needed.
—By Michael Metz
