An official website of the United States government         Here's how you know         
**Official websites use .mil**
A **.mil** website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
**Secure .mil websites use HTTPS**
 A **lock (lock )** or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Skip to main content (Press Enter).

National GuardAlways Ready Always There

National Guard

                - 

Search

Search
Search

-  Home		 
-  News    -  Guard News         
  -  Overseas Operations         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  News Features         
  -  RSS Feeds         
  -  Press Releases         
  -  Transcripts 
-  Features    -  Features by Year         
  -  State Partnership Program         
  -  Special Features 
-  About the Guard    -  How We Began         
  -  Air National Guard         
  -  Army National Guard      -  DEERS Soldier Journey         
    -  Leader Development Program 
  -  History and Heritage         
  -  I am the Guard         
  -  NGB Official March 
-  Leadership    -  CNGB         
  -  VCNGB         
  -  SEA         
  -  DANG         
  -  DARNG         
  -  Joint Staff      -  J-1         
    -  J-2         
    -  J-3         
    -  J-4         
    -  J-5         
    -  J-6         
    -  J-7         
    -  J-8         
    -  Personal Staff        -  Inspector General         
      -  General Counsel          -  Special Victims Counsel 
      -  Public Affairs         
      -  Executive Support Services         
      -  Legislative Liaison 
    -  Special Staff        -  Office of the Provost Marshal         
      -  Office of the Joint Surgeon         
      -  Director of Acquisitions         
      -  Small Business Programs         
      -  Chaplain         
      -  Senior Leader Management Office         
      -  Diversity Equity Inclusion 
    -  Comptroller 
-  Resources    -  National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance         
  -  Community Engagement         
  -  FOIA         
  -  Fact Sheets         
  -  Helpful Links         
  -  Image Gallery      -  News Images         
    -  Graphics         
    -  Historical Paintings 
  -  Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion         
  -  Legislative Liaison         
  -  Small Business Programs         
  -  Social Media         
  -  State Websites         
  -  Videos      -  Featured Videos         
    -  On Every Front         
    -  2019 Videos         
    -  2020 Videos         
    -  2021 Videos 
  -  Suicide Prevention         
  -  Family Programs         
  -  Environmental         
  -  Trial Defense Service         
  -  Holistic Wellness Challenge 
-  Contact Us		 

Home : Features : 2012 : Tornado Season

## Tornadoes: "The deployment of the National Guard was one of the most timely ... I've ever seen"

Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. (3/5/12) – More than 700 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and – Airmen were supporting civilian authorities in four states recovering from tornadoes and floods this morning –troops who arrived on-scene within a few hours of the storms.

Civilian authorities in both Indiana and Kentucky – two of the most severely affected states – noted how fast the National Guard had boots on the ground, which emergency managers said was the result of years of relationship-building and partnership before the natural disaster hit.

"The deployment of the National Guard was one of the most timely deployments of Guardsmen I've ever seen," said Kentucky State Trooper Capt. Scott Miller. "The Soldiers were ready to go within hours."

Numbers of Guard members helping civilian authorities peaked at more than 800 on Sunday, and this morning there are still 390 Guard members providing presence patrols and traffic control points in Kentucky; more than 70 distributing water and conducting presence patrols in Indiana; more than 100 providing security in Missouri and more than 140 removing debris after flooding in West Virginia. Presence patrols provide security to affected citizens and their devastated communities.

All four states declared states of emergency after tornadoes that struck on Leap Day and on March 2 in the Midwest and South and heavy rains that drenched West Virginia on Feb. 28. Severe storms affected multiple states from late on Feb. 28 through March 3, National Guard Bureau officials reported. The storms left severe damage in their wake in numerous Midwest and Southeast counties.

At least 39 people died, many more were injured and towns were destroyed, civilian media reported.

Tornado forecasting has significantly improved with the deployment of Doppler radars nationwide, The Washington Post reported. With warnings of potential deadly tornadoes days before the storms hit, state National Guard leaders were ready to respond.

"I've never seen anything as devastating as I saw today," Kentucky Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson said after a March 3 damage survey in a Kentucky National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. "I'm very proud of the Kentucky National Guard and how quickly they respond."

One example of how Guard members are helping: Kentucky National Guard members helped civilian rescuers and firefighters free two employees trapped in a Salyersville, Ky., auto parts store.

"It feels a lot safer having ... the Kentucky National Guard provide a presence here in our community," said Kenna Spears, who works in Salyersville.

"This is one of the things you sign up for, both defending the country and the citizens of our state," said Army Sgt. Brandon Lewis, on duty in Missouri after a yearlong tour in Afghanistan.

"The Guard is crucial to what we do," said Stephanie Robey, manager of the Kentucky Department of Emergency Management's recovery branch. "Our partnership is crucial to protecting public interest, people and property."

Said Robey, "You can always depend on the Guard."
*Compiled from National Guard Bureau and Kentucky and Missouri National Guard reports.*

- Home
- Site Map
- Privacy & Security Policy
- Link Disclaimer
- Web Policy
- DOD Information Quality
- DOD Open Government

- FOIA
- No FEAR Act
- Accessibility/Section 508
- Contact Us
- Army Guard Careers
- Air Guard Careers
- USA.gov

                  - X
                  - YouTube
                  - Flickr
                  - Facebook
                  - Instagram

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil