Schools are closing, weekend activities are being cancelled and the federal government here will shut down four hours early today, but the National Guard is on duty in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia in anticipation of a major winter storm, reports AFPS’ Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke .

About 660 Guardsmen have been activated for a storm that is expected to dump up to 28 inches of snow and bring high winds to the northern and western parts of Virginia and then continue north up the East Coast this weekend.

“This storm will bring severe weather to many parts of Virginia,” said Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. “As the storm affects your area, please stay off the roads and contact local authorities if help is needed.”

McDonnell declared a state of emergency Feb. 3, and the state’s Department of Military Affairs is staging more than 400 personnel from the Virginia Army and Air National Guard and Virginia Defense Force at key locations in the commonwealth.

If needed, the DMA will bring an additional 100 personnel on duty when the weather picture and state and local support requirements become clearer, according to a news release from the state.

“We are moving DMA personnel into position in order to be on standby for possible missions to assist state and local emergency response organizations with rescue and transportation operations,” said Army Col. Rob McMillin, a Virginia National Guard joint operations officer.

Personnel were expected to be in place yesterday and to be ready for duty this morning, Guard officials reported.

McMillin stressed that the Virginia National Guard receives its missions through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to assist state and local emergency response organizations and is not able to respond to direct support requests from the public.

“During the winter storm in December 2009, we received calls directly from citizens, and we are not able to respond to those requests.” McMillin said. “We urge people who need assistance to make a request through their local dispatcher or 911 services, and that request will be forwarded to the DMA when appropriate.”

McMillin said the initial plan is to place Virginia National Guard personnel with Humvees on duty at locations throughout the commonwealth.

This is the third time since the middle of December the DMA has called up Guardsmen for weather-related duty. The DMA had nearly 250 soldiers, airmen and members on duty throughout southern Virginia on Jan. 29 and 700 on duty after a storm that began Dec. 18.

In Maryland, the National Guard has pre-positioned its forces and equipment to provide support to civil authorities. Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley is expected to declare a state emergency later today.

“The Maryland National Guard always stands ready to support the governor and the citizens of Maryland,” said Army Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, the state public affairs officer. “We provide essential, lifesaving services when local and state response capabilities are overwhelmed, including the capability to provide transportation, shelter, food, water and medical support.

He added that the National Guard has 34 armories across Maryland that also will be used to support this ongoing operation.

In the District of Columbia, Washington Mayor Andrew Fenty declared a snow emergency this morning. The National Guard will provide 12 Humvees and 60 soldiers to help in implementing the district’s Snow Emergency Management Plan.

In Delaware, Gov. Jack Markell is prepared to declare a state of emergency, his spokesman said. If needed, the Delaware National Guard will be mobilized.

In South Dakota, 16 Guardsmen are still on duty helping to re-establish road and utility infrastructure and conduct search-and-rescue operations as required by local authorities. The state experienced strong winter storms with high winds, snow, and freezing rain on Jan. 23, and more than 2,000 residents are currently without power throughout the state.

National Guard missions normally performed during snow operations include assisting local law enforcement with transportation and evacuation, distribution of supplies, road clearing and snow removal, search and rescue, security and law enforcement airspace coordination, aircraft support and patient evacuations, airspace coordination, and sheltering assistance.

Not surprisingly, ACORN wants to get back at the “pimp and prostitute” who caught the New Orleans-based organization.

In the multi-million dollar lawsuit, ACORN is seeking damages from James O’Keefe (the pimp) and Hannah Giles (the prostitute) along with Andrew Breitbart, who posted the videos on his website, BigGovernment.com.

The group is saying that the audio portion of the video was obtained illegally because Maryland requires two-party consent to create sound recordings. The pair on the tape who were fired (the ACORN employees), Tonja Thompson and Shara Williams – according to the lawsuit – suffered “extreme emotional distress.”

Folks, this one’s a no-brainer. When this lawsuit does come to the court, I predict the judge will throw this one out. The video, as those of you who have seen the film can attest to, shows absolutely no emotional distress of any kind by the two ACORN employees.

Rep. Kratovil and Ag Secretary Vilsack Announce Over $1.23 Million in Stimulus Funding for Rural Water Projects and Community Facilities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore
08/27/09

Rural water project will benefit Kent County while facilities funding will go to fire houses in Cambridge, Parsonsburg, and Wicomico County Fire Police Association.

Date: 8-26-09 – For Immediate Release
Contact: Kevin Lawlor, 202 225 5311

Washington, DC – Rep. Frank Kratovil and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that $1,231,000 will be made available in funding for both rural water projects and community facilities on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The rural water funds are part of a total $175.8 million in water and environmental projects that being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed into law last February.

The Projects will help provide safe drinking water and improved wastewater treatment for rural communities. Of the total, $1.1 million will be directed toward Kent County Maryland in the form of a $780,000 direct loan and $330,000 grant.

“I have said from the beginning that if a stimulus package was going to work to get our economy back on track it would need to focus on rebuilding and revitalizing our rural infrastructure in places like Kent County,” said Rep. Frank Kratovil. “What these funds will do is provide reliable drinking water and sanitary waste disposal all while protecting the infrastructure and creating jobs.”

The rural facilities funding are part of $54 million in community facilities projects that are being funded immediately with federal funds that are being provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Of the total, a $21,000 grant will be directed toward the Neck District Volunteer fire company in Cambridge, MD, the Parsonsburg Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $50,000 grant and the Wicomico county Fire Police Association will be awarded an $18,887 grant.

“These grants show a commitment to making our communities better. They will go toward essential services that provide for the safety of our citizens as well as revitalizing many of the building that serve as focal points of many small rural communities,” said Rep. Kratovil. “Through the stimulus we are creating jobs and improving services right here on the Eastern Shore in real time.”

Source: 

 http://kratovil.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&sectiontree=21,22&itemid=185