Pa. National Guard activated for Tropical Storm Ida

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig | Spc. Justin Love, a utilities equipment repairer and Sgt. Joshua Watkins, a construction equipment repairer, both with the 3622nd Support Maintenance Company, 728th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, check the lights on one of the eight high-clearance vehicles their unit has readied to respond to Tropical Storm Ida Sept. 1 at Fort Indiantown Gap. About 120 Pennsylvania National Guard members total with approximately 35 vehicles have been placed on state active duty and are on stand-by as Ida bears down on Pennsylvania. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Zane Craig)  

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, UNITED STATES

08.31.2021

Story by Brad Rhen 

Joint Force Headquarters - Pennsylvania National Guard

FORT INDIATOWN GAP, Pa. – About 120 Pennsylvania National Guard members have been placed on state active duty and are on stand-by as Tropical Storm Ida bears down on Pennsylvania.

The Soldiers and Airmen are staged, along with about 35 high-water capable vehicles, at several locations across the Commonwealth.

Two helicopters and crews that are part of the Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team are also on stand-by. The PA-HART is a joint partnership between the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, along with credentialed civilian rescue technicians.

"As Tropical Storm Ida approaches, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Pennsylvania National Guard stand ready to assist the citizens of Pennsylvania and our partner agencies,” said Pennsylvania Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler. ”As National Guard members, we serve in our communities and are no strangers to responding to extreme weather events. With heavy rains expected, I urge everyone to practice extreme caution. The Pennsylvania National Guard will be there to help and live up to our motto 'Always ready. Always There.’”

The Pennsylvania National Guard has responded to more than 60 natural disasters since 1953, with more than 25 of those responses to flooding.

Additional information about how the Pa. National Guard is activated for domestic support missions can be found here: https://www.pa.ng.mil/Site-Management/News-Article-View/Article/2140589/how-it-works-pennsylvania-national-guard-support-during-covid-19-pandemic/

• Date Taken: 08.31.2021
• Date Posted: 08.31.2021 16:40
• Story ID: 404263
• Location: FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, PA, US