National Guard activated in six states to help fight coronavirus

[babylonsister]

How the heck will they curtail the spread of this virus?


National Guard activated in six states to help fight coronavirus
Ellen Mitchell
3 hrs ago


Roughly 400 National Guard personnel have been activated in six states to help curtail the spread of the coronavirus, with another 600 expected to join them within 24 hours, the National Guard Bureau announced Friday.

"As of this morning, about 400 Air and Army National Guard professionals in six states - Florida, Iowa, Louisiana, New York, Rhode Island and Washington - are providing personnel in support of civil authority at the direction of their governors in response to COVID-19," the National Guard said.

"As other states are requested to support civil authorities, those numbers will change rapidly. By the end of the day we expect that number to approach 1,000," the statement read.

President Trump on Friday declared a national emergency over the coronavirus outbreak. The move will free up more federal aid to go to states and municipalities battling the spread of the deadly illness, which the World Health Organization classified as a pandemic on Wednesday.

more...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/national-guard-activated-in-six-states-to-help-fight-coronavirus/ar-BB119YVS?ocid=sf2

[sop]

1. The NG hasn't been activated to "curtail the spread of the coronavirus"

They've been called out to curtail the social unrest that's sure to follow.

[GP6971]

2. Do you have a link to support that or

is it your speculation?

[Ex Lurker]

3. Reality check

The Guard's efforts to combat the illness include training personnel on coronavirus response, identifying and preparing Guard facilities for use as isolation housing and compiling state medical supply inventories, according to the statement.

In addition, the Guard will provide such assistance as logistical support, disinfection and cleaning, transportation of medical personnel, call center support and meal delivery.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/thehill.com/policy/defense/487505-national-guard-activated-in-six-states-to-help-fight-coronavirus%3famp

[sop]

4. Why not call out FEMA, or the Red Cross during an infectious disease event?

From the FEMA site: "For the purpose of emergency declarations for an infectious disease event, FEMA will follow the procedures described in 44 C.F.R. § 206.35..." (FEMA goes on to describe their mission is such events in great detail.)

From the RC site: "The Red Cross works continuously to reduce disease and deaths and to improve health and human dignity in catastrophes..." That's why this agency was created.

[Ex Lurker]

5. They are also involved

But neither has the personnel, the logistics, nor the ability to scale up that the National Guard has. The Red Cross is a private nonprofit and not designed for a scenario of this magnitude. FEMA is mostly an administrative branch that uses other organizations-such as the National Guard-to put boots on the ground. That is how it's designed to work.

One of the National Guard's main functions is to assist in natural disasters. Be glad they are there.

[sop]

6. This is not a natural disaster, it's an infectious disease event.

Sure, the National Guard can do the heavy lifting during hurricanes, earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters, but their historical mission hasn't been to "curtail" infectious diseases. The NG is usually called up to maintain and enforce public order if/when things get out of control, as they are likely to when containment zones are created, curfews are established and shortages occur.

[Ex Lurker]

7. They do a lot of other things

Like set up MASH units in a matter of hours. We may be needing that capability.

We will not accomplish the things we need to do without the National Guard. You may not like it, but those are the facts.

Source: I am former Army National Guard.