Soldiers help the villages of Oravská Lesná and Novoť recover from the effects of snow calamity

Soldiers from Žilina and Martin have been involved in a heavy snow removal operation to help the villages of Oravská Lesná and Novoť recover from the effects of a snow calamity. Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš visited the villages to see for himself what assistance the armed forces could provide for local residents.

 
On the military response to the snow disruption at the villages, Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš said: “It is important for our citizens to know they can rely on soldiers. And in the event of emergency situations like this one, they can count on them. Also for this reason, we have issued a tasking to representatives of the Armed Forces to participate in the meetings of the crisis staffs.”
 
On Oravská Lesná and Novoť, the two villages most severely hit by the snow calamity in Námestovo County, Chief of the Žilina County Office Michal Lavrík said: “At this moment they require most assistance.” He went on to stress that service personnel are very helpful in alleviating the results of the calamity.
 
Highly appreciating the deployment of troops and equipment to the villages, Deputy Mayor of Oravská Lesná Jozef Rošťák and Mayor of Novoť Radoslav Kozák agreed on one thing: “It is a truly great help for our residents.”

While noting that the 5th Special Forces Regiment Žilina is ready to deal with the calamitous situation as long as necessary, Regiment Commander Col Miroslav Gardlo said: “We have deployed a stand-by unit along with vehicles and equipment, and we expect more troops and equipment to be deployed tomorrow. Troops will be reinforced with special equipment, for example, they are being issued with snowshoes to reach local residents who have been cut off from their communities. For this reason, we will also deploy medical professionals.”

Service members are prepared to respond throughout other villages and towns across Slovakia wherever the situation requires it.