The National Guard was called upon to help Arizona grocery stores. This is what they'll be doing

Gov. Doug Ducey on Friday explained his decision to call in the National Guard to assist grocery stores and food banks, saying Arizona has plenty of supplies but needs help getting them to the right places.

"Manufacturers are at top capacity," the Republican leader said during an update on the coronavirus outbreak. "There is not a shortage of toilet paper or hand sanitizer or bottled water. This has been binge-buying. This has been caused by the very real fear that is out there."

Ducey had announced he would activate Guard members Thursday evening when he unveiled several new measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Typically, grocers require two trucks full of items to restock, he explained Friday. Now, due to the uptick in panicked runs on shops, it takes about 12 trucks to restock a single grocery store.

"This has been caused by the very real fear that is out there," Ducey said. "Please buy what you need. You don't need to buy additional. The only thing you would need to stock up on is prescription drugs."

Guard members also will step in to replace many of the volunteers food banks typically rely on.

Governor: Supply isn't the problem

The director of Arizona's Department of Emergency and Military Affairs told reporters Guard members would coordinate with emergency and retail personnel to identify inventory shortages and get goods to the stores that need them most.

"We don't know anything about stocking shelves," Maj. Gen. Michael McGuire said. "We can do big-scale logistics, move trucks, finish that final mile and get things to the warehouses."

Ducey is calling in about 200 Guard members to start, and McGuire expects that number to expand.

"But I can tell you, with only 8,000 of us, we can't stock every store in the state," McGuire said, encouraging people who have lost jobs due to the pandemic to seek openings at grocery companies throughout Arizona.

The governor issued the same call during his remarks at the morning press briefing.

"Unfortunately, there are some jobs being destroyed through the downturn and the closings to protect public health," Ducey said. "But there are job opportunities available."

Ducey participated in a public service announcement with Bashas', Fry's, Safeway and Albertsons stores that emphasizes the stores will remain reliable.

"To our customers, our stores will remain open," Monica Garnes, division president with Fry's, says in the commercial.

"And fresh, affordable foods will continue to be available for all," adds Frank Cannistra, a senior vice president with Albertsons and Safeway.

The commercial advocates "responsible shopping" to prevent shortages.

Ducey made his remarks Friday after volunteering to help package food at St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix, which provides for nonprofits in nine counties. The food bank, too, has plenty of food for the time being, but has seen a significant drop in volunteers as people isolate themselves to prevent spreading the coronavirus.

And demand for service at St. Mary's is high: One day this week, they set a non-Thanksgiving record of serving 1,152 meals.

"The folks here are tough, and just like the rest of us, they are going to get through this," Ducey said. "But they need our help."

Guard part of virus response throughout U.S.

Ducey is one of nearly 30 governors who had called on the National Guard for help as of Thursday evening, activating about 2,050 Guard members nationwide, according to political news website The Hill.

Duties vary from state to state, with members providing everything from medical testing and ground transportation to logistics and planning help, like in Arizona.

On Wednesday, for instance, the Tennessee National Guard helped deliver 500,000 coronavirus test swabs brought to the U.S. from Italy.

On Thursday, California mobilized about 500 members to help with food distribution.

"The fighting women and men of America are the best in the world, and now they are going to fight this disease and the fear," Ducey said Friday.

Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter.

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