Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
After all COVID-19 test swabs were taken in Kimball, National Guard members removed their suits and everything was decontaminated.
The Kimball High School was the site of the Nebraska Air National Guard and Army National Guard COVID-19 testing on Thursday, April 9.
Lt. Natasha Hilsgren said we "train for this situation" and that they-the National Guard was "here to help."
The Guard members came in from the Lincoln area.
Region 21 Emergency Management Director Ron Leal said that Panhandle Public Health District reached out to him and asked him to find a place for the National Guard to set up and test Kimball County medical and emergency personnel. He originally looked at the fairgrounds but it appeared too cramped for the method that the National Guard used and then he realized that school was out and the high school would be perfect.
Leal's job was to manage the over all situation and make sure that all the needs were met of the National Guard unit.
The National Guard unit came into town with a busload of soldiers, three pickups and attached trailers with equipment. The unit arrived about 10 a.m. and testing started at 1:00 pm.
They were organized and professional, and some said that last year at this time they were fighting flooding in eastern Nebraska. After completing the testing, the Guard cleaned up, packed up and traveled to Scottsbluff for further testing.