Nearly 200 Iowa National Guard soldiers and airmen have been mobilized to eastern Iowa to assist emergency management crews in their efforts to clear and remove debris from the Aug. 10 derecho. The 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 734th Regional Support Group and the 185th Air Refueling Wing deployed around 30 dump trucks and additional excavators, backhoes, skid loaders and chainsaws to the Cedar Rapids area on Aug. 14. Additionally, the Iowa National Guard continues to support the state’s COVID-19 response efforts — nearly 200 other soldiers and airmen are currently supporting Test Iowa sites and assisting with contact tracing. By midday Monday, National Guard crews had removed at least 135 truckloads of debris totaling nearly 2.25 million pounds, clearing roughly 68 city blocks. While efforts have been largely focused on Linn County, the Iowa National Guard remains ready to mobilize additional assets to areas that may need more support, officials said in a release. To request support, Iowans are encouraged to reach out to their respective local emergency management coordinators.