Staff report
FRANKFORT, Ky. -- Responding to a devastating winter storm that shut down most of the state, Governor Steve Beshear directed in January 2009 for Kentucky's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, to order the unprecedented activation of all Kentucky Army National Guard units, along with selected portions of the Kentucky Air National Guard. This was the largest state call up of Kentucky National Guard forces in the history of the Commonwealth.
Take a look at the following for some behind the scenes moments from that remarkable mission.
Click here for the full story.
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear views winter storm damage in rural Kentucky while en route to Louisville, Ky. to meet with Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson. (Kentucky National Guard photo)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Soldiers from A Co. 103rd Brigade Support Battalion cut down trees overhanging the roadways caused by the damaging ice storm that hit the commonwealth Jan. 29. Approximately 500 Kentucky National Guardsmen were mobilized in response to the storm to assist in clearing roadways, transporting supplies and securing shelters throughout the state of Kentucky. (Kentucky National Guard photo)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard walk rural roads of McDaniels, Ky. providing "Wellness Checks" to its residents during emergency ice storm relief efforts. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora / KyANG)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="427"]
Soldiers of the 307th Component Repair Company prepare to transfer cases of MREs from a C-23 Sherpa aircraft to a 2.5 ton truck for transport to the distribution facility at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky. on Monday, February 2, 2009. (Kentucky National Guard photo)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Staff Sgt. Burkman of the Kentucky Air National Guard knocks on the door of a resident of McDaniels, Ky. providing a "Wellness Checks" during emergency ice storm relief efforts. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora / KyANG)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Army Sgt. Joshua White, 206th Engineer Battalion, talks with residents of Leitchfield, Ky. as part of a door-to-door health and welfare visit program conducted by members of the Kentucky National Guard. (Kentucky National Guard photo)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Army Sgt. Joshua White, 206th Engineer Battalion, delivers water to residents of Leitchfield, Ky. who have gone without it since power outages have shut down water treatment facilities in Grayson County, Ky. (Kentucky National Guard photo)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
Kentucky Air National Guard member, 2nd Lt. James Campbell, 123rd Maintenance Squadron. Receives a grateful hug from a resident in Banadana, Kentucky during ice storm relief efforts. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Dennis Flora / KyANG)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
A UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter lifts off on a mission as part of the emergency relief efforts following a massive ice and snow storm that has ravaged Kentucky. (Kentucky National Guard photo)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="576"]
In a light hearted moment Kentucky Air National Guard Master Sgt. Karen Fulton and her team share a light hearted moment, exchanging high fives with a dog belonging to a victim of the ice storms at the LaCenter, Ky. relief station. (Kentucky Air National Guard photo)