Fredericksburg National Guard Called In To Help

Capt. Michael Simmons at the said about 90 members will be at the local armory for about 72 hours to help local emergency management officials with storm-related calls.

The 116th Brigade Special Troops Battalion will get its orders from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, he said. They got here on Saturday and Simmons said they've had a few recognizance patrols.

"We haven't been officially tasked yet by VDEM," he said Sunday night.

Simmons estimated that 60-percent of the personnel are from the Fredericksburg area.

Gov. Bob McDonnell put the entire state under a State of Emergency on Saturday, the day after a rare "derecho" caused havoc in the region and left thousands without power. Virginia Dominion Power estimates that most of Northern Virginia, which includes Fredericksburg, Stafford and Spotsylvania, will have power restored by Thursday, but some could be without until the end of the week. McDonnell called for the Virginia National Guard to assist local public safety officials, and it has been authorized to have up to 300 personnel on state active duty.