What does the National Guard do before, during, and after a natural disaster like a hurricane?

2016-10-07T15:03:18-04:00

With Matthew off the coast of Florida, I'm wondering if those with experience (Katrina, Sandy, etc.) could enlighten RP on what is happening, what happens and what they've done in response to natural disasters on US soil.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Oct 7 at 2016 3:05 PM

2016-10-07T15:05:44-04:00

The national guard will usually man shelters as security, man distribution points for water and food, helping with clearing of debris, assisting police with traffic, radio support, and anything else the governor needs

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Oct 7 at 2016 4:22 PM

2016-10-07T16:22:16-04:00

Preposition men and materials, wait out the storm, then help with cleanup.

Response by SGM Billy Herrington made Oct 8 at 2016 12:44 AM

2016-10-08T00:44:29-04:00

There is a disaster response plan that is followed. There are also yearly hurricane exercises (HURREX).

72 hrs prior to landfall we are propositioned in a safe location with all that we need to respond the minute it's safe. A lot of times we are part of the evacuation effort going door to door asking people to leave.

Once clear and we can move in (note, this doesn't mean it's sunny outside and the storm has passed, during hurricane Gustav I had water and waves up and over my HMMWV hood) the troops move to their place. This can be a POD site (water, food, ice distro) rescue efforts, or security patrols. Title 32 guard members have arrest powers within their state and can enforce civil law so long as they aren't federalized under title 10.

Once the area is passable and immediate emergencies are taken care of it is usually just POD security and supply distro and security/counter looting patrols. We work hand in hand with FEMA/ state emergency management to provide real time damage updates and issues. We also partner with local LEO's to augment their manning and coordinate efforts.

I've done such fun things as: catch looters, report gas leaks, and secure devastated neighborhoods after a tornado for example. Similar things occur after hurricanes but you have to add in the storm surge. I've responded for multiple tornadoes and hurricanes in MS. They each have their own set of problems. Neither is fun.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 8 at 2016 3:20 PM

2016-10-08T15:20:01-04:00

Uhm NG mans food/ water distribution points. Does a show of force to help local authorities and clean up after the storm.

Response by SGT Tim Fridley made Oct 11 at 2016 12:34 PM

2016-10-11T12:34:46-04:00

I was with the KSARNG in 1993 when we had major flooding our jobs consisted of assisting with evacuations, assisting LEO with security and helping fill and load sand bags for the local residents.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 8:23 AM

2016-10-12T08:23:06-04:00

This varies state to state. In Texas we have a separate branch called DOMOPS (Domestic Operations) with its own General Officer for command. This branch is technically considered joint, but the majority of its make up is Army National Guard. They run a 24 hour Joint Operation Center that monitors and assists with natural disasters. Contrary to popular belief the Governor does not call the guard for assistance. Instead Texas is divided into 24 disaster districts, each chaired by a Department of Public Safety Captain or Lieutenant, and coordinated by a state employee. If a district has a natural disaster or needs assistance the Coordinator will reach out to the State Operations Center (Civilian) who will select assets based on cost, availability, and usefulness.
DOMOPS has a range of force packages that are assigned to its organic units, for example a Wildfire Supression Team or a Winter Weather Rescue Team. Each of these force packages has to be ready to activate within a very short timeframe. If the SOC wants to use one of our force packages it sends a request through the JOC who activates the unit and assumes operational control of that force package. After that mission is complete they will then bill the state for the total cost of the mission in order to find equipment maintenance and personnel costs.
While on scene for a hurricane we often send high profile vehicles to assist with rescuing stranded motorists, or set up evacuation centers to help assist. Ultimately a National Guard unit always falls under the leadership of the incident commander who is assigned through the incident command system. We specialize and train for specific missions, however we often have to be versatile as the situation dictates.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 8:25 AM

2016-10-12T08:25:45-04:00

If it is a major storm like Katrina the state can also use guard from other states. Just as with after 9/11 the guard is under the orders of the governor so they can assist in law enforcement. Where the active duty can not as they are under the control of the president.

Response by SSG Michael Keohane made Oct 12 at 2016 9:10 AM

2016-10-12T09:10:45-04:00

The state National Guard maintains a disaster planning section and has developed plans for the deployment of the state national guard units in the event of a disaster. However, they cannot act until released by the proper state authority, usually the governor. That was the under-reported problem in Louisiana with Katrina. The governor, in spite of the advice of her advisers and Washington, delayed the deployment of the National Guards to their designated deployment positions. As a result, few National Guard were able to make it to their positions before Katrina made landfall and had to sit out the storm before continuing their march. That is why FEMA had truckloads of sandbags, in position, to re-enforce the dikes but the National Guard personnel who were to fill & position those sandbags were miles away.

Response by SPC Douglas Hemmingway made Oct 12 at 2016 10:02 AM

2016-10-12T10:02:25-04:00

In addition to what MSgt Hebert and MSG Herrington mentioned the Guardsmen and Guardswomen could be performing roving patrols with the local LEOs securing the disaster scene against looters. During a blizard that occurred here in Kansas while I was in my first enlistment the unit I was with used our tracked vehicles to clear I-70 of stranded vehicles and to bring stranded motorists to our armory as a shelter. The wives of the Unit Administrator and other full-timers came in and fixed meals for the ones sheltering in the armory in Elsworth. I lived in Wichita at the time so I was not called up to go assist in that disaster situation.

Response by SSG John Karr made Oct 12 at 2016 12:20 PM

2016-10-12T12:20:07-04:00

I was in NOLA for Katrina as a member of the Delaware national guard. We did not have a recip agreement with Louisiana so we did not participate in security operations. We provided communications until commercial systems were back up and running. We did have a recip with Mississippi so some of our guys went over there as Biloxi, Mississippi was wiped off the map.

Response by SSG Christian Natoli made Oct 12 at 2016 1:36 PM

2016-10-12T13:36:17-04:00

I was with the Guard in California during the Riots Earthquake and Brushfires 3 years in a row. You stand by until needed then you deploy where ever sent and do whatever job they have. We wound up being Guards at a Fema sight once another time working firelines

Response by Brig Gen Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 2:55 PM

2016-10-12T14:55:29-04:00

Our Delaware Air Guard has led the charge on this in many ways. Locally we have worked with the State and Red Cross to set up Medical Needs shelters where we provide physicians, nurses and medical technicians that support the shelter staff. We also have shared a Blue Med EMEDS package which the state purchased so we can set up a field hospital.
In other states, through EMAC agreements, we have deployed to various EMEDS facilities, wr have used our C130's and our Air Evac squadron to move patients out of harms way,or evacuate them to care after the event. And this is just the Medical response. I will defer to others on CE, Security Police, Communications, Logistics. . there is a wealth of support we bring to this fight. This is a Guard Mission through and through!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2016 8:51 PM

2016-10-12T20:51:30-04:00

Be flexible. Be there for the people.

Response by COL John Hudson made Oct 13 at 2016 1:46 AM

2016-10-13T01:46:28-04:00

Carlos, as a former "Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO)" for 5th Army...I can answer your question. All 'disasters' are "LOCAL" disasters. Each State has an "Office of Emergency Services (OES)" to handle any and all State-wide emergency issues (including FEMA). If that office is unable to assist, reps come to the State's National Guard HQ to speak with the EPLO's of the various military services who gather and work from there. For example, say, a natural disaster creates many casualties and local hospitals are full...the State plans for this by recognizing prison hospital facilities as an asset during that emergency. If none are available, it may be that a Marine or Navy EPLO has access to a Navy Hospital ship that's close by. EPLO's are NOT engaged in any State disaster unless and until that State's Governor petitions the POTUS who would then declare a Federal Disaster Area. EPLO's hold the rank of 0-6, and each State has ONE, with the exception of Texas and California, which both have TWO due to population size. An EPLO has the legal authority to confiscate or attach any military asset from any service unit within their area of responsibility to assist with a particular emergency situation. I was called up to immediately leave 5th Army in San Antonio for Sacramento, CA (arriving just after midnight) during one of that State's biggest fire disasters and spent more than two weeks plying my EPLO trade. Our services and equipment use are not free and the State must pay back a percentage to the Federal Government for those services. As a matter of process, we sat with and shared office space at the California National Guard HQ in Sacramento with representatives of FEMA, and one EPLO from the Army (EPLO), Navy (NEPLO), Marines (MEPLO, and Air Force. Progression and Routing for any request originated at the OES, then to FEMA, and then to the EPLO area. Hope this helps.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 3:51 AM

2017-08-25T03:51:07-04:00

I am seeing some great information here sirs, thanks for the notes. i have been serving since 2008, started with the California Guard, deployed in 2013 to Afghanistan, but due to being commo, was regulated to fobbit status. I was just activated for Hurricane Harvey and this is my first disaster mission. Not entirely sure what to expect, though I am pretty sure I am getting wet, so packed as much wet weather as I can gather.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Aug 25 at 2017 7:42 AM

2017-08-25T07:42:33-04:00

I can tell you what an Engineer unit can do. During my time in the Kentucky National Guard, the Engineer Battalion I belonged to supported mission during tornados, floods, heavy snows, and forest fires. We did everything from evacuations, M113 and Hummers are pretty damn good in deep snow and the bridge boats can handle high water easily, provided communications since most DES offices are co-located in the armories, helped with road and debris clearance, and provided equipment and manpower to fight fires. We even threw an expedient bridge or two in place. Even acted as temporary shelters on occasion. While we seldom practiced these missions, the State Command and local units were required to have contingency plans for all of these an a couple more, as an example, earthquakes. Shortly after I moved to Kentucky I was involved in the planning of operations if/when the New Madrid Fault ever goes off again like it did in 1811/1812.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 7:51 AM

2017-08-25T07:51:55-04:00

For really big disasters there is now a task force that was created by Bush, that has assets stage that can be deployed into the area. Back in 2009 when I worked for the 11th Aviation they were part of this force, they had select team members who were designated to be able to mobilize in a moments notice and had a small contingent on full time orders plus the equipment staged at Knox, they were only part of this task force, they trained with select elements from the Guard and Active duty that were also tasked to support this mission.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 24 at 2018 12:43 PM

2018-05-24T12:43:49-04:00

The first has to be activated by the Governor of a state, or by the President, depending on what the unit is capable of doing has a big impact on what it will do. Many units provide security prior to landfall, and after to prevent looting. Additionally we may be tasked with sandbag ops, communications, assistance to assets that need support. I.e. after one hurricane our wreckers were tasked to recover stuck fire trucks. Convoying critical items into an affected area is also a mission I have seen. Engineers may have to do other things, and then there is always the ever fun job of body recovery.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Aug 30 at 2018 8:10 PM

2018-08-30T20:10:41-04:00

Typically my unit was called up we would move to an area near the expected hurricane, aid in evacuation with local LE (one Guardsman/woman and one LE) this kept route open, and prevented looting once it had passed. We also recovered fire trucks that would get stuck in flood zones. Rigged generators to help evacuation centers. and a lot of stuff like that.