By Josh Smith
Anchor / WJHL
Published: January 28, 2010

As if they don’t have enough to worry about.

Today, I’ve heard from several viewers with family in the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Hundreds of the local National Guard soldiers are in the Hattiesburg, Mississippi area preparing to deploy to the Middle East next week.  They’ve been working for months to get ready for their mission.

This weekend, I’m told, the soldiers will get a final few days of leave before they literally leave for a year overseas.  For that reason, many Tri-Cities families will be packing up and heading south to be with their loved ones who’ve been training for deployment.

But the timing couldn’t be worse.

“I am scared to death,“ a viewer told me on Facebook after hearing of a major snow storm set to hit Friday night Saturday morning.  “It is just going to be me and the 3 kids.“

Another viewer emailed this morning asking Rob for as specific of a forecast as possible.  She was frantic that she might miss even a little time with her husband before he has to leave.

These are families - mostly mom’s with kids - who already are dealing with an immense amount of stress.  Now they have to worry that weather will prevent them from enjoying the last few days of time with their loved ones for many months to come.

11 Connects is hoping to find a 278th family working through the weather worries.  Contact us if you’re willing to be interviewed - or if we can help in any other way.

WJHL 11 Connects
423-434-4504

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