Governor mobilizes National Guard to assist in COVID-19 response efforts

Gov. Mike Parson has signed an executive order to begin mobilizing the Missouri Army National Guard to assist in the state’s COVID-19 response efforts.

This will increase the amount of coordination among state government partners in combating the spread of the coronavirus.

“The COVID-19 crisis is constantly developing and changing, but we are taking steps each and every day to slow the spread and protect public health and safety,” Parson said. “Mobilizing the National Guard will help us provide more immediate resources to our citizens and enhance Missouri’s ability to overcome this global pandemic.”

Butler County Emergency Management Agency Director Robbie Myers said Friday morning he has received the mobilization notice from the state.

“All the conversations up to this point” have indicated the guard will “help locals with supplies and testing,” Myers said. “That is what I would anticipate they will be used for.”

The National Guard is “ready and poised to assist local and state civilian authorities in response to COVID-19,” Brigadier Gen. Levon Cumpton said. “The guard has flexibility in utilizing resources and deploying them around the state where they are most appropriate.”

The mobilization of the National Guard, according to Myers, is the next step in the process.

It came, Myers said, the day after President Donald Trump’s major disaster declaration for Missouri.

As a result of that declaration, federal emergency aid has been made available for the state to supplement the state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by COVID-19 pandemic.

With the National Guard now activated, Myers said, the guardsmen will be working with the State Emergency Management Agency to “help get resources to our local communities.”

What the actual plans are for Butler County and the Southeast Missouri region are unknown at this time, Myers said.

“If they do anything here in Butler County, an LNO (Liaison National Guard Officer) would contact me in my position as Emergency Management Agency director,” Myers said.

The LNO would “communicate and coordinate” operations with Myers.

“This is how it worked in 2017 when we worked with the National Guard during the flood,” Myers said.

All the coordination will be “between myself and the LNO” if the guard does any operations here in Butler County.

“We are looking forward to working with them to help get supplies and needs to our health care workers on the front line,” Myers said.