TULSA, Okla. — After being dispatched to help stranded motorists during the winter weather hitting the state, the Oklahoma National Guard is fulfilling their mission.
The Oklahoma Department of Public Safety requested the Oklahoma National Guard provide Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams (SMART) beginning Wednesday and lasting through Friday to assist Oklahoma Highway Patrol troopers in recovering motorists who may become stranded in the potential storm.
The National Guard will be providing four teams to assist OHP. The National Guard teams will be working in the vicinity of Claremore, Miami, Durant, and McAlester.
These teams include people and equipment that can travel through hazardous road conditions, provide recovery of stranded cars, and transport them to safety and shelter.
Guardsmen from the 1-279 Infantry helped OHP in Vinita to get a stranded motorist back on the road.
The main priority during this week's severe winter weather is the recovery of people and moving them to safety. Another priority is ensuring any stalled or stuck cars are cleared from the roadway. Guardsmen will not be recovering civilian vehicles that are not in the roadway.
The Oklahoma National Guard conducted similar missions almost exactly one year ago during the 2021 winter storms.
Trending Stories:
- Winter Weather 2022: School closings in Green Country
- DOWNLOAD the 2 News Oklahoma app for alerts
- Oklahoma Gov. Stitt declares State of Emergency for winter storm
- FOLLOW 2 News Oklahoma on Facebook
- LIVE BLOG: Snow, ice causing problems around Green Country
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Twitter
