ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Georgia deployed 120 National Guard members on Saturday after the state entered a state of emergency last week, with troops focusing on northeast Georgia’s road closures and power outages.

Gov. Brian Kemp authorized up to 500 Georgia National Guardsmen to mobilize Thursday in preparation for response and recovery efforts. About 120 Army, Air and State Defense Force members are currently stationed in northeast Georgia responding to missions across affected areas.

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“We’re on standby, but we’re observing the environment up there,” Col. Barry Simmons, chief of joint staff for the Georgia Department of Defense, told Atlanta News First in an on-air call. “We’re still observing the environment and looking to see where we’re needed in that northeast portion of the state.”

Simmons said Georgia’s National Guard consists of 15,000 state employees and citizens in the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and state Defense Force.

Guard members are operating in the northeast portion of the state around Toccoa, Rabun County and Stephens County. Current missions include chainsaw teams and route-clearing operations. The Guard is also prepared to assist the Department of Transportation with logistics if needed.

Roads are closed across parts of Georgia, flights have been canceled and Delta flights face ground delays. Power outages affect parts of the state.

State parks have warming stations throughout Georgia, and the National Guard can support logistics and points of distribution to provide relief to residents if needed.

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