MICHIGAN NATIONAL GUARD crews, including the 1432nd Engineering Company of Kingsford, worked with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources in April to clear vital areas of trees downed by a massive ice storm in northern Michigan in late March. (Michigan National Guard photo)

LANSING — More than 800 Michigan National Guard soldiers and airmen were activated by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to support communities affected by the northern Michigan ice storm.

Most of the units were staged at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center and started deploying to communities April 3.

These units participated in response efforts:

— 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment (Lansing);

— 1071st Support Maintenance Company (Grayling);

— 1073rd Support Maintenance Company (Greenville);

— 1430th Engineering Company (Traverse City);

— 1431st Engineering Company (Calumet);

— 1432nd Engineering Company (Kingsford);

— 1434th Engineering Company (Ypsilanti);

— 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (Harrison Township);

— 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base (Battle Creek); and

— 210th Military Police Battalion (Taylor).

The debris management operation included mobile chainsaw teams and engineering equipment that could move between locations to support debris-clearing operations. These operations included helping restore power to communities and reestablishing access to emergency communications sites.

The MING coordinated with state and local agencies, including the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Michigan State Police and Michigan Department of Transportation.

The storm downed trees across the area, leaving some forested areas looking like they had been mowed. The storm blocked many roads and knocked out power to thousands of homes in a 12-county disaster area.

The Michigan National Guard provides trained, combat-capable forces in support of the national security strategy worldwide and defense support of civil authorities in response to federal emergencies in the U.S. and state emergencies in Michigan.