Lincoln – Nebraska has officially dispatched more National Guard members to respond to the coronavirus pandemic than it did during last year’s record-setting, statewide floods, state officials said.

Gov. Pete Ricketts said 393 Nebraska National Guard soldiers and airmen have been working on the state’s pandemic response, more than the 329 that were mobilized to help with the historic 2019 floods.

The Guard has established six mobile testing teams that have worked in 29 different Nebraska cities, including the hard-hit areas of the state, where they’ve helped public health officials administer coronavirus tests. Guard members have collected 11,162 coronavirus test samples so far, about 30% of the total gathered in Nebraska.

“We’ve not ordered anyone into duty,” said Maj. Gen. Dayrl Bohac, the state’s adjutant general. “They’re raising their hands and want to be there.”

Bohac said Guard members are also at the state’s two new TestNebraska testing sites in Grand Island and Omaha, and they have helped package and deliver food for food banks in Omaha and Lincoln. He said other members are working at University of Nebraska dorms that are being used to house people with the virus who need to isolate or are still recovering after a hospital stay.

Ricketts highlighted the Guard’s accomplishments during his weekday coronavirus news conference, saying they’ve been critical to the state’s response.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’re doing,” he said.