The Oregon Military Department/Oregon National Guard is providing assistance to local areas throughout the state in order to provide specialized support when needed with the COVID-19 response. Assistance ranges from Military Department Civilians providing maintenance and mechanical support, to uniformed personnel setting up facilities for civilian medical personnel.
Guardsmen have coordinated with Oregon Health Authority (OHA), the Oregon Military Department (OMD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Department of Corrections (DOC) and other state local and non-governmental agencies.
• Lebanon, Oregon: On March 17th, The Oregon National Guard CERFP (CBRNE - Enhanced Response Force Package) unit traveled to the Oregon Veterans’ Home here and assisted by setting up large tents to be used as a temporary testing facility for COVID-19. The testing was to screen more than 200 staff and caregivers at the facility.
• Warrenton, Oregon: On March 18th, at Camp Rilea members of the Oregon Military Department, working with state maintenance and Providence Seaside Hospital maintenance crews, provided assistance with military tents at the Providence Seaside Hospital. The tents will be used for testing and triaging members of the local community who may have fallen ill from the COVID-19 virus.
• Salem, Oregon: On March 19th, The Oregon National Guardsmen will be at the Oregon State Fairgrounds to help set up medical station facilities.
Kelly Fitzpatrick, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs, said, “At the Lebanon Veterans’ Home, our highest priority remains the health and safety of our honored residents and hard-working staff. We are grateful to our partners at the Oregon National Guard and the Oregon Health Authority for their ongoing support in helping us continue to follow established infectious disease prevention protocols and public health guidelines.”
Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Matthew McCreery, assigned to the Oregon CERFP was one of the Soldiers on site to set up the tents. “We’re glad to be here to start supporting the communities of Oregon,” he explained. “As a National Guard, our mission is really to be a rapid ready force to respond to the municipalities of Oregon in any emergency or incident. Whether it’s manpower, or trucks or setting up tents to help support the communities -- we're ready to go,” said McCreery.
The Oregon Military Department is scheduled to continue assisting throughout the state in a support capacity as requested.