FOR RELEASE: March 12, 2021
CONTACT: Colorado National Guard Public Affairs, ng.co.coarng.list.militarysupport@mail.mil, 720-250-1053
CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has activated the Colorado National Guard to support potential rescue efforts by state and local jurisdictions in Colorado during the winter storm.
About 50 CONG Soldiers and Airmen are responding from multiple units along the Front Range.
“The Colorado National Guard Snow Response Teams can get anywhere where they’re needed,” Joint Task Force-Centennial Commander U.S. Air Force Col. Michael Bruno said. “Our troops and vehicles will augment our civilian partners at their request to assist with rescuing motorists who may become stranded.”
The CONG will employ vehicles, including Light Medium Tactical Vehicles and Small Unit Support Vehicles, for this blizzard response.
During the 2019 blizzard, four CONG SUSV teams checked 276 stranded vehicles and rescued 93 motorists and two dogs.
CONG forces are prepositioning ground search and rescue teams at readiness centers from Northern Colorado to Colorado Springs and along I-70.
The SUSV is a fully-tracked, articulated vehicle designed to operate off road in a variety of conditions and environments. 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.