FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, April 15, 2020
CONTACT: Colorado National Guard Public Affairs, ng.co.coarng.list.militarysupport@mail.mil, 720-250-1053
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado National Guard is assisting the State Emergency Operations Center and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to convert the Colorado Convention Center in Denver into a 2000-bed medical shelter.
About 50 Soldiers will assist with warehouse operations such as tracking, inventory, and unloading of equipment.
The CONG hosted U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Todd Semonite, USACE commanding general and 54th U.S. Army chief of engineers, by transporting him via Black Hawk helicopter for site visits at the CCC and The Ranch Events Complex, in Loveland, Colorado, a second location identified by the state for conversion into a medical shelter.
“Our Colorado National Guard warriors are helping our state and federal partners to build a medical shelter that will alleviate stress on our medical infrastructure,” The Adjutant General of Colorado U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mike Loh said. “Our combined efforts will save lives.”
At this time, the CONG has not been requested to support the Ranch conversion.
More than 250 Colorado National Guard members have already been mobilized to help the State Emergency Operations Center and the City and County of Denver to shelter people in Denver experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 outbreak.
The CONG is also providing planners to support local emergency operation centers in other Colorado communities that the state has designated.
All of these members have been medically screened and are on Title 32 federally funded orders.
Approximately 30 Soldiers and Airmen are still serving in their full-time roles supporting the CONG operation from Joint Force Headquarters in Centennial, Colorado.
Our priorities are to protect our force and families and all Americans, and maintain our wartime readiness while supporting our local, state, and federal partners to prevent the spread of the disease and save lives.