COLORADO – Governor Polis has activated the Colorado National Guard to support possible rescue efforts from state and local jurisdictions to save drivers stranded during this blizzard event.
Approximately 50 Colorado National Guard Soldiers are responding from multiple units along the Front Range, including four small-unit support vehicle teams.
“The Colorado National Guard can get anywhere where we’re needed with our tracked and high-wheeled vehicles,” Joint Task Force-Centennial Commander U.S. Army Col. Scott Sherman said. “The CONG is always ready, always there to assist our neighbors to save lives, prevent suffering, and mitigate great property damage.”
CONG forces are preparing ground search and rescue teams at readiness centers from Longmont to Colorado Springs.
About 24 vehicles, including Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks and Small Unit Support vehicles will be used during this blizzard response.
These specialized vehicles are most often used to evacuate people trapped in winter storms.
The vehicles are a federally funded resource used to transport Special Forces units and mountain infantry Soldiers during winter survival training. They also double for state emergency response missions.
During the March bomb cyclone, CONG rescued 75 people.
