Governor Declares State of Emergency, Activates National Guard

Governor Matt Blunt has declared a State of Emergency in response to the Winter blast that has hit every region of the state. He has also activated the Missorui National Guard to assist local authorities as they deal with the effects of the severe weather. The Governor’s spokesman, Jessica Robinson, says it’s a declaration that affects the entire state – areas like central and southern Missouri, which received a lot of snow, and places like the St. Louis area, which were hit with ice. State assistance to communities will be based on requests from local governments and emergency operations centers. Local communities in need of assistance are asked to contact the State Emergency Management Joint Operations Center, which will coordinate the response.