What Happens If...

[MWatkins]

First, a quick update of tropical activity in the Atlantic...

Nada. Zero. Zilch. Zippo. A whole lotta nuthin'.

Chances are good that it won't stay that way in August however. As I was driving in to work today...I question from last year found it's way back to conscientious.

This came up during Isabel last year but it bears repeating. What would happen if a powerful hurricane strikes a community, and the National Guard assigned to that area is overseas in Iraq?

Take the example of Andrew in 1992. Had it not been for the National Guard, southern Dade county could have easily turned into a lawless zone for some time. FEMA and the US Government were slow to respond to the situation, but at least quick deployment of the National Guard occurred. Not having the Guard available is a disconcerting thought.

I don't have any inside knowledge into this topic at all...hopefully somebody does. I would hope they would pre-stage some homeland units. Does anyone know?

MW

[mf_dolphin]

I don't know of any instance so far where an entire stat's National Guard has been deployed at one time. I know here in Florida it's been unit level deployments on a rotating schedule. If that's the case, then I'm sure other state units would be deployed in response to a natural disaster

[bevgo]

They never send all the available guard troops from a state. The numbers may be lower than before any deployment but not depleted!

[HurricaneBill]

This came up during Isabel last year but it bears repeating. What would happen if a powerful hurricane strikes a community, and the National Guard assigned to that area is overseas in Iraq?

Take the example of Andrew in 1992. Had it not been for the National Guard, southern Dade county could have easily turned into a lawless zone for some time. FEMA and the US Government were slow to respond to the situation, but at least quick deployment of the National Guard occurred. Not having the Guard available is a disconcerting thought.

I don't have any inside knowledge into this topic at all...hopefully somebody does. I would hope they would pre-stage some homeland units. Does anyone know?

MW

Worst-case scenario, the U.S. asks for foreign assistance?

[Anonymous]

major terror attack at the same time of a category 5 hitting Tampa.

[Lindaloo]

I shudder to think of any of the above mentioned.

[MWatkins]

I know a little bit about the weather...but I know zero about troop deployment and military stuff. I would hope that there are reservists around to assist for homeland emergencies such as hurricane strikes.

Thanks for all of the feedback on this topic. Although I still don't feel good about it...I do feel better.

I know it's expected...after all it is June...and climatologically speaking July is even a little quieter than June (less fronts...really strong TUTT...southern branch of the jet in transition over the MDR)...but there is NOTHING to talk about out there. I don't see the season opening until August.

MW

[chris_fit]

Good topic!

[weatherluvr]

I don't speak from personal knowledge, but I would have to believe that a contingency plan is in place for a natural disaster while some troops are overseas. As stated above, there's still a fair amount of Guardsmen in the States. My guess is that if, God forbid, there was a major catastrophe, troops from nearby states would be mobilized to help out. Never-- I mean NEVER-- do I see an instance of this country requiring assistance from abroad due to lack of manpower.

[Brent]

major terror attack at the same time of a category 5 hitting Tampa.

[hial2]

We have become used to have the government protect us..but times have changed..
All you hear is that there is an almost certainty of another terrorist attack in our country before the next elections in November..near the heart of hurricane season. So a hurricane hitting Tampa at the same time of a terrorist attack is not that far fetched!!..
Be prepared!! Buy (and be trained professionally in the use of) self defense eqipment..the line between life or death could be you

[Air Force Met]

There will be enough guard troops available to assist in any relief efforts...even if the local guard armory is deployed.

Let me explain a little of how this works...since this very scenario is my job (will explain later): First, the country is divided into armies...1st army (east of the Mississippi) and 5th Army (west of the Mississippi). If a hurricane makes landfall on the Tx or LA coastline, the Gov of TX or LA can mobilize the national guard (of that state) AND the state guard (a group of volunteer soldiers who do weekend drills but don't get paid). The govs then work through FEMA and depending on the damage, FEMA will activate their emergency response team. A part of the team will locate at Ft Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX (for 5th Army AOR) and another part of the team will go to the disaster site. The EOC (Emergency Operations Center) at 5th Army is now activated and guard resources from all the states (22 of them) are now available to the governor of TX or LA through 5th Army.

So...you are not limited to just people from your local area or your state...but you have resources available from the entire continental army (1st or 5th Army). The same thing happens in wildfire season. When a big wildfire in Idaho (for example) occurs...and it gets so big that local, state and national resources can't contain it...they mobilize guard units (through 5th Army) from other states...train them and then send them to Idaho to fight the fire. Back in August of 2001, the Idaho fires (especially the Icicle complex fire) had all resources fighting it but they couldn't contain it. 5th Army was called in and by the end of August, army guard units from Texas and Colorado were fighting wildfires in the state of Idaho.

Now...to how I know this. I am the active duty air force meteorologist in charge of a national guard weather flight who is tasked to support 5th Army during such a crisis. We support them during floods, hurricanes, wildfires, earthquakes or in case of a NBC (chemical, biological, nuclear) attacks (WMD). We work in the 5th Army EOC (and sometimes deploy with the field teams...known as RTFs) during each crisis with FEMA, CIA, FBI and any other national government agency that is involved. It is my job to coordinate the weather support for any crisis in the 5th Army AOR that might arise. During hurricane season that means forecasting any potential landfall in TX/LA before it occurs and then updating search and rescue efforts on weather impacts after it occurs. For all others (except floods) it is more of an after the fact weather support...like telling the commanding general that dry thunderstorms and winds to 40 kts will hamper fire suppression efforts in Idaho...or that 40 degree weather and lots of rain in Seattle will hamper earthquake relief efforts.

[The Dark Knight]

You know your stuff man!!!!!