WEBVTT 00:00.120 --> 00:00.953 - [Interviewer] Where are we 00:00.953 --> 00:01.786 and what are we doing? 00:01.786 --> 00:02.619 - So we're currently 00:02.619 --> 00:05.630 at the multi-agency coordination center 00:05.630 --> 00:07.030 which is the headquarters 00:07.030 --> 00:09.340 for the Governor's Covid-19 response 00:09.340 --> 00:11.170 in the state of Oklahoma. 00:11.170 --> 00:13.150 So, what I really wanna stress is 00:13.150 --> 00:18.150 that the Governor has authorized 175 additional soldiers 00:18.250 --> 00:21.370 and airmen into the Covid-19 response 00:21.370 --> 00:23.801 in direct support of his number one objective 00:23.801 --> 00:27.636 which is ensuring Oklahomans are taken care of 00:27.636 --> 00:30.170 during the Covid-19 outbreak. 00:30.170 --> 00:33.908 Specifically, the Guard is supporting his surge plan 00:33.908 --> 00:36.510 in preparation for the potentiality 00:36.510 --> 00:37.780 that we may be needed 00:37.780 --> 00:41.730 in case hospitals capacity is overwhelmed 00:41.730 --> 00:43.540 by Covid-19 cases. 00:43.540 --> 00:45.240 Currently, the state of Oklahoma, 00:45.240 --> 00:47.880 our hospitalizations are holding very flat, 00:47.880 --> 00:49.270 we're looking very good. 00:49.270 --> 00:50.730 But the Governor's looking forward 00:50.730 --> 00:52.860 and his planning and casing needs 00:52.860 --> 00:54.430 our additional support. 00:54.430 --> 00:57.490 So, right now, 175, as I said, soldiers 00:57.490 --> 00:59.531 and airmen, are out supporting 00:59.531 --> 01:03.010 the 11 regional hospital groups 01:03.010 --> 01:04.440 in the state of Oklahoma 01:04.440 --> 01:05.350 with the intent 01:05.350 --> 01:07.450 of providing PPE support 01:07.450 --> 01:08.400 and other needed 01:08.400 --> 01:09.520 and necessary aid 01:09.520 --> 01:11.300 and assistance to those groups. 01:11.300 --> 01:14.140 We're also taking about 35 soldiers 01:14.140 --> 01:17.140 and working at the Strategic National Stockpile 01:17.140 --> 01:19.780 where we'll be ensuring that those PPE, 01:19.780 --> 01:22.700 Personal Protective items, are available 01:22.700 --> 01:24.523 as needed throughout the state. 01:25.670 --> 01:28.490 So, again, as I want to reiterate 01:28.490 --> 01:30.400 to the people in the state of Oklahoma, 01:30.400 --> 01:33.120 that should you see service members 01:33.120 --> 01:35.430 in their uniform out in the community 01:35.430 --> 01:38.320 it is absolutely for the purpose 01:38.320 --> 01:41.130 of assisting in the Governor's surge plan. 01:41.130 --> 01:43.620 I know that there were a lot of rumors early on 01:43.620 --> 01:45.970 about the National Guard and martial law. 01:45.970 --> 01:47.310 The Governor of the state of Oklahoma 01:47.310 --> 01:49.610 has made it extremely clear he has no intent 01:49.610 --> 01:51.220 to declare martial law. 01:51.220 --> 01:53.780 So, this is exactly similar 01:53.780 --> 01:55.510 to situations in which you 01:55.510 --> 01:57.510 and the community have seen airmen 01:57.510 --> 01:59.100 and soldiers in the past 01:59.100 --> 02:01.730 in response to tornadoes and floods 02:01.730 --> 02:03.730 and other emergencies in the state 02:03.730 --> 02:04.750 of Oklahoma. 02:04.750 --> 02:06.670 The service members are your neighbors 02:06.670 --> 02:08.670 and they're here to help. 02:08.670 --> 02:10.070 - [Interviewer] So, how do you see the guard's 02:10.070 --> 02:11.780 response developing in the future? 02:11.780 --> 02:15.770 - So that really depends on how this pandemic 02:15.770 --> 02:17.200 takes effect in the state. 02:17.200 --> 02:18.480 We have multiple models 02:18.480 --> 02:20.540 and the Governor has entire modeling groups 02:20.540 --> 02:22.250 that are looking at this daily. 02:22.250 --> 02:24.070 On the high end of the models, 02:24.070 --> 02:25.680 it looks like we may be needed 02:25.680 --> 02:27.010 in additional roles 02:27.010 --> 02:28.508 to provide additional assistance 02:28.508 --> 02:30.860 to our frontline medical providers. 02:30.860 --> 02:33.360 However, in the average model, 02:33.360 --> 02:35.330 or even some of the lower end models, 02:35.330 --> 02:36.810 it looks like we may be able 02:36.810 --> 02:38.070 to provide the assistance 02:38.070 --> 02:38.980 at the current cap 02:38.980 --> 02:40.780 that we are right now. 02:40.780 --> 02:43.253 About 175 airmen and soldiers.