As winter weather approaches this weekend, Govenor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has mobilized 140 Arkansas National Guardsmen to state active duty to assist with potential challenges. The Guardsmen will staff 28 winter weather response teams across the state.
The teams are set to assist Arkansas State Police in transporting stranded motorists to safety. Patrols will begin Thursday and continue until road conditions improve.
Each response team includes five Guardsmen, two Humvees, and communication equipment. Teams are authorized to recover first responder emergency vehicles but are not permitted to recover privately owned vehicles.
Teams will be stationed in cities statewide, including two assigned to Troop I in Harrison. Other locations include Newport, Forrest City, Pine Bluff, Warren, Hope, Hot Springs, Clarksville, Jonesboro, Fort Smith, Lowell, and Little Rock.
In addition, 16 Guardsmen have been activated for command, control, and liaison duties. Eight of them will staff the Joint Operations Center 24/7, while the other eight will operate in two-person teams at the brigade and wing levels to oversee assigned units.
The Arkansas National Guard supports civil authorities during crises as directed by the governor.
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