Friday, December 1, 2006
Contact: Brian Hauswirth, 573-751-0290
Blunt Deploys State Aid to St. Louis
National Guard to Arrive by Sundown
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt has directed state aid to St. Louis County and City. National Guard Troops and heavy vehicles will be arriving this afternoon, and generators will be staged to be utilized as directed by local officials.
“We are working hand in hand with local officials to provide access to state resources as they work through the aftermath of this winter storm,” Blunt said. “The men and women of our National Guard will continue to arrive through the night and provide whatever assistance is needed.”
County Executive Charlie Dooley and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay requested the state's help to address power outages, freezing temperatures, health, medical and safety needs as well as shelter provisions.
Several dozen guard members are en route to St. Louis and expected to arrive this afternoon. Blunt has deployed 30 humvees and a number of 2.5 and 5 ton trucks. By 4 p.m. 30 guard members will arrive in the St. Louis area, and by 5 p.m. an additional 50 to 60 more are expected in the Festus, Farmington and Desoto areas. In addition 200 more have been activated and will arrive over night and into the morning and will be in place by 8 a.m. They will be disbursed throughout the city and county as directed by local officials.
In addition the state has 8 generators on the way to provide power to help heat select public buildings and warming sites.
Blunt has offered extensive state assistance to communities recovering from severe winter weather including guard support, access to state facilities and power generators. The assistance will be available only in those communities whose officials request state aid and will be distributed based on the state's emergency operations plan. Local communities in need of state assistance can contact the State Emergency Management Joint Operations Center. The state operations center then coordinates the response.
Earlier today the governor issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency statewide in response to heavy precipitation, white-out conditions, high winds, and ice that have impacted communities throughout Missouri. The order also activated the Missouri State Emergency Operations Plan and directs state agencies to provide support in affected areas as needed.
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