April 23, 2020
The Michigan National Guard has expanded support aiding community healthcare coalitions with supply and logistics management of medical equipment across the Upper Peninsula. Beginning Wednesday, April 22, guard members are now serving at regional logistics hubs in Sault Saint Marie, Marquette, and Ontonagon to assist with distributing critical medical supplies throughout the Upper Peninsula.
The Michigan National Guard is supporting each site with six guard members to assist the coalitions with planning, distributing, and tracking critical medical supplies across Michigan in the fight against COVID-19.
“Over 500 men and women of the Michigan National guard live in communities of the Upper Peninsula as neighbors,” said Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, Adjutant General and Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “They are also technical experts that have the skills to support the State of Michigan’s response to COVID-19.”
State of Michigan emergency managers requested Michigan National Guard personnel to assist community and regional healthcare coalitions with supply chain management. These coalitions are responsible for requesting necessary medical supplies from the state, receiving, and distributing those supplies within their regions. Supplies, such as gowns and facemasks, come from the national stockpile, donations, or from other regions, and are critically important to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
The Michigan National Guard’s support for this mission is expected to continue through the end of May.
The Michigan National Guard has been integrated into the state’s emergency response since the Governor announced its activation on March 18. Across the State of Michigan, the guard is supporting medical screening, assisting at local food banks, augmenting the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), and supporting efforts for establishing alternate care facilities across Michigan. Title 32 funding for the Michigan National Guard was approved on March 30, providing federal resources for future humanitarian relief activities by the Michigan National Guard under the authority of the Governor.
Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus.
