Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has directed the Arkansas National Guard to transition its winter storm response from assisting the Arkansas State Police to supporting the Arkansas Department of Health in select counties through at least Jan. 28.
Counties receiving support include Saline, Drew, Garland, Pike, Mississippi, Phillips, Hempstead, Faulkner, Miller, Howard, Hot Springs, Craighead, Lawrence, Jefferson, Conway, Stone, Izard, and Poinsett. Craighead and Jefferson counties will each receive two Guard teams, while the remaining counties will be supported by one team each.
Teams will help emergency medical services access patients, transfer individuals to ambulances, assist with vehicle recovery when ambulances become stuck, provide convoy support over hazardous roads, and offer manpower for EMS crews carrying equipment to difficult-to-reach locations.
The 77th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade will operate in Saline County. The 87th Troop Command is assigned to Mississippi, Poinsett, Craighead, Lawrence, Stone, and Izard counties, while the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will cover the remaining areas.
In total, 121 Guardsmen will conduct ambulance escort duties around the clock. Guardsmen from the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade and 189th Airlift Wing have been released from state active duty.
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