The National Guard is not exclusively activated ‘after a disaster.’ Sometimes troops help prepare

For some Americans, the prospect of the April 8 total solar eclipse was invigorating. Millions of people along the eclipse’s path from Texas to Maine gathered in backyards, rooftops and balconies to witness a rare solar event. 

But if social media is a guide, other people perceived the eclipse as something more ominous: Midday, April 8 the moon would block the sun, successfully distracting everyone from some unknown — but certainly terrible — incident that would follow. 

An April 2 Instagram post said the total solar eclipse "provides a unique opportunity to do a black swan event," a term often used in conspiratorial posts to refer to a significant event with cascading consequences. People "wouldn’t see it coming," the post said. "All of the signs are there, the biggest being, calling in the National Guard."

"The National Guard in the HISTORY of its life, gets called in AFTER a disaster, not BEFORE something happens," it claimed. "How blind can you be?" 

This post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.) 

(Screenshot from Instagram.)

National Guard support is not exclusive to a disaster’s aftermath. Sometimes, troops help prepare or stand ready to provide a response. 

In a few states along the eclipse’s path of totality, the National Guard’s support has been requested by or offered to local authorities working to manage extraordinary numbers of tourists. 

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National Guard troops in Arkansas distributed about 23,000 eclipse glasses. In Oklahoma, Illinois and New York, National Guard troops were prepared to support state and local authorities with large crowds of eclipse-watchers. 

The Oklahoma National Guard said its troops would support local officials with increased visitors from "eclipse tourism." 

Lt. Col. LeeAnn Tumblson, an Oklahoma National Guard spokesperson, told PolitiFact that "it is not unusual" for its Civil Support Team to provide support at events such as the eclipse. In 2023, Tumblson said the unit had supported local authorities for events such as the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon and football games at the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.

In August, Nevada National Guard troops were sent to southern Nevada before Hurricane Hilary made landfall. In September, 50 New York National Guard troops were deployed to make hurricane preparations on Long Island as Hurricane Lee approached. Ahead of bad winter weather in January, Arkansas National Guard troops were activated to help local authorities with drivers stranded around the state by severe winter weather. 

Similar preparations are sometimes made for large gatherings. 

In November, the National Guard provided support to Washington, D.C., police during the March for Israel, on the National Mall. In June 2020, Oklahoma National Guard troops supported local law enforcement during President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The National Guard was also called to support local authorities in Oregon before the 2017 total solar eclipse.

It’s inaccurate to say that the National Guard is exclusively called in for support after disasters strike. 

We rate this claim False.

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