The AZ All-Risk Incident Management Team is prepping to coordinate one of the largest humanitarian missions in Arizona.

The team will be delivering medicine, food, fuel and hay to the remote people on Navajo & Hopi lands that are isolated by unprecedented amounts of snow. The team will be mobilizing out of Holbrook and Winslow beginning today.

There are approximately 150,000 people affected by the winter weather conditions across Arizona. The All-Risk Incident Management team will be covering areas from Page to New Mexico and including Coconino, Apache and Navajo counties. The team will be utilizing National Guard air and ground resources to make these deliveries, including 6 helicopters provided by National Guard out of Arizona and Nevada.

According to Eric Neitzel of the All-Hazard Incident Management Team coordinating Operation "Winter Storm", the efforts initially will be primarily by air as ground resources are limited with even bulldozers are getting stuck in the snow.

This is a multi-agency effort coordinated between ADOT, National Guard, Red Cross and state and local fire departments. The Arizona Red Cross is in place to provide assistance as needed. Residents are being asked to make their request for assistance thru their local chapter house. Residents should also be advised that military personnel and traffic will be mobilizing in the areas of Holbrook, Winslow and Show Low and residents out on the roads should allow for their safe and speedy passage.

Stay posted to WMICentral.com for further updates and information on this effort.

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