Media Advisory
Apr. 6, 2018

Arizona National Guard prepares to deploy to border

PHOENIX - The Arizona National Guard has activated a team of planners today to coordinate the deployment of 150 Guard personnel to the border next week.

These service members will provide mission-enhancing capabilities that allow Customs and Border Protection personnel to provide more law enforcement officers to the field.

In comparison to its coastal neighbor, the Grand Canyon State does not experience high levels of earthquake activity. In southern California alone, residents experience about 10,000 earthquakes each year. Because of this ratio, Arizona can be a reliable partner during earthquake response.

Planning under the adage of it’s not a question of if, but when the big one may hit, Arizona is taking steps now to be ready for California’s call.

Power outages, floods, and other unexpected emergencies can bring businesses and organizations to a halt. Depending on the services the organization provides, a disruption has the potential of putting the health and safety of communities in jeopardy. However, planning ahead of time can help businesses and organizations meet the needs of their customers during emergencies.

A wildfire burns through the trees and underbrush on a hot, humid day over the summer. Local and state agencies work together fighting the blaze. While firefighters battle the flames on the ground, state agencies work behind the scenes to support the first responders.

The Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) supports local agencies in a variety of ways, from finding resources to deploy (personnel, trucks, equipment), to creating maps to study a fire and its path.

Arizona is known for sunny days, cacti, and monsoon storms in the searing summer months. Most people don’t realize that serious winter weather affects parts of the Grand Canyon state as well. It can be a danger to those unprepared for it.

Winter storms bring strong winds, freezing rains, ice, sleet and treacherously low temperatures.

Wind-driven blizzards can drop an excess of snow, immobilizing an entire area.