Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear made the unprecedented move of activating the entire Kentucky National Guard to help with cleanup and relief efforts after a snow and ice storm caused an estimated 23 deaths. On Saturday, Gov. Beshear directed Kentucky's Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini to call up all Kentucky Army National Guard units, along with selected portions of the Kentucky Air National Guard.
"This is the largest state call up of Kentucky National Guard forces in the history of the Commonwealth," said Gov. Beshear in a statement on Jan. 31. "It represents the strongest possible effort to relieve human suffering and ensure the safety and well-being of our citizens."
According to the Kentucky National Guard, the total number of troops on duty is 4,600. Coordination of recovery efforts will be made by Joint Task Force Kentucky, commanded by Brig. Gen. Lonnie Culver, who was deputy commander of a similar task force on the Mississippi gulf coast during Hurricane Katrina recovery operations.
The storm caused widespread power outages for more than 770,000 electricity customers. A state of emergency was declared on Jan. 26 for the storm-thrashed state. The national American Red Cross office has been providing shelter to thousands of people escaping freezing homes.
The winter storm that turned to rain resulted in an ice storm, covering roads with ice, downing trees, and disrupting telephone service. In some areas, community officials went door to door to check on residents and give them information about the location of storm shelters.
Highest priority for the National Guard has been set as restoration of electric power to water plants, communications facilities and homes. Routes are being cleared for emergency response vehicles and for utility crews to get access to damaged power transmission lines. Other high priorities include establishing shelters and points of distribution for essential supplies. Helicopters have also been assigned to help utility companies identify damaged power transmission lines.
The Kentucky National Guard is also teaming up with local emergency management agencies, fire departments, rescue squads, law enforcement agencies, and volunteers to carry out "wellness checks" for households in all of Kentucky's 120 counties.
Green tape will be displayed near houses that have enough food, power, water, and communications. Red tape will indicate houses with shortfalls.
Kentucky’s short-term aid program, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), was put into "crisis" phase for families with heating emergencies. LIHEAP benefits are administered through a network of 23 community action agencies. There is at least one community action agency office in every county in the state.
According to a Tennessee newspaper, effects from the storm were felt in the neighboring state of Tennessee. Sales for generators and kerosene heaters were brisk, and were even being sold out of the back of trucks.
Residents of other states were also affected by the storm. Missouri, Oklahoma, Illinois, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Indiana were all facing ice, cold weather and power outages heading into the weekend.
