Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    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
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Iowa National Guard Soldiers rescue family from icy peril during storm By National Guard Bureau
 ARLINGTON, Va. - An Iowa family whose van spun off an icy road during winter storm Draco was safe in a warm hotel room thanks to Iowa National Guard members. Michael Wilson, who was driving his family from northwest Iowa to Ohio, remembered the spin-out Wednesday night left them in a ditch about 8 miles south of Urbana. “When we were sitting there in the ditch I did wonder how long it would be before somebody stopped,” he told WCRG-TV. He didn’t have to wonder too long. Soon, a Guard Humvee with four Soldiers pulled up. Sgt. 1st Class John DeVore told the station, “We got there and we knocked on the door and opened up the van and they were all smiling because we showed up.” The grateful family has been staying in a hotel and waiting for their van to be towed from the ditch. The driver from the local towing service even drove them for groceries. The storm, dubbed Draco by The Weather Channel in its new program to raise awareness of winter storms, dropped up to 20 inches of snow in parts of the Midwest. At least 9 deaths were attributed to storm-related crashes, authorities said. The storm cut power to thousands of users, resulted in cancelation of several hundred holiday flights and shuttered schools and businesses. But National Guard Soldiers in Iowa and Wisconsin was prepared. About 133 Wisconsin National Guard members were called to state active duty and were positioned at armories in key locations around the state as a result of a state of emergency. In Iowa, about 77 Iowa Soldiers were on state active duty, working with the Iowa Department of Transportation to assist stranded motorists, said Lt. Col. Gregory Hapgood of the Iowa National Guard. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker issued an executive order Wednesday to allow state and local governments to prepare the resources they need to respond to the storm, which is projected to dump up to 19 inches of snow between Wednesday and Friday in a storm corridor spanning from south central to northeast Wisconsin. Wind gusts up to 45 mph are expected to create near white-out conditions and snow drifts of up to four feet, resulting in degraded travel conditions. "I issued this executive order to make sure Wisconsin is prepared for whatever this winter storm may bring," Walker said. "Mobilizing our state agency resources during this storm will ensure we leave nothing to chance when it comes to protecting the citizens of Wisconsin." Those state agencies include Wisconsin Emergency Management and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Armories in Sussex, Oconomowoc, Portage, Oak Creek, Milwaukee, Appleton, Beloit, Richland Center and two in Madison have been selected as emergency sheltering and warming areas, as well as staging areas for Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers to respond to calls for assistance from local authorities. Those requests would include responding to stranded motorists along routes designated by the state Department of Transportation, assisting in closing roads, and conducting welfare checks on those affected by the winter storm. The Wisconsin State Patrol and the National Weather Service are urging people to avoid traveling. *Contributing: Wisconsin National Guard and Steve Marshall, National Guard Bureau*
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership
 By Lt. Col. Ellis Parks,
  Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School
 By Sgt. Denis Nunez,
  Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise
 By Senior Master Sgt. Joshua Allmaras,
  More
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise5/3/2024Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar5/2/2024Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics5/2/2024 View more Guard News »
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School5/3/2024
New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa4/30/2024
Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership5/3/2024

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program5/3/2024

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange5/2/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil