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Indiana’s
Air and Army Guard respond to regional flooding
By Staff Sgt. Chris
Jennings,
181st Intelligence Wing Public Affairs Office
Posted: June 9, 2008
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Members of the
181st Intelligence Wing,
Terre Haute,
Ind.,
continuously fill sandbags in relief efforts following the flood
waters that hit Vigo County early Saturday, June 7, 2008.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Chris Jennings, 181st Intelligence Wing,
Indiana National Guard.
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As the Air National Guard’s
181st Intelligence Wing and the Army National Guard’s 519th Combat
Sustainment Support Battalion personnel made their way towards
Hulman Field, Terre Haute,
Ind.,
they had an idea what their mission was going to be once they
arrived for June drill weekend.
More than six inches of
rain dumped into the Wabash
Valley
on Friday evening and well into Saturday morning, stranding
motorists and pouring storm water into local resident’s homes. As
usual, the call for assistance was answered by the Guard and sand
bag filling began.
“There were several Airmen and Soldiers who made
it in only to find out their homes were being flooded,” said Maj.
Jim Jensen, 181st Intelligence Wing Public Affairs Officer. “This is
a disaster that is affecting us all, but we have a mission to
support.
Some stayed here to continue filling
sand bags for others while their own homes were flooding. That says
a lot about Indiana Guardsmen and how much they care about the
community.”
When Indiana
declared a State of Emergency,
drill weekend became a constant effort to lend a hand to a community
in need. Sand bag filling began on base as local television crews
were reporting the extent of the damage. Reports of family and
friends’ homes being flooded trickled in throughout the morning.
Less than a mile from the 181st Intelligence Wing entrance, State
Road 42 had collapsed under the weight of rushing flood waters.
Airmen and Soldiers on base could not see the devastation, but
reports from other sources became enough to motivate them throughout
the night.
“We filled more than 12,000
sand bags in 24 hours,” said CMSgt Anne Rice, who was leading the
bagging efforts on base. “Even though many have been here throughout
the night, our attitudes have been very positive.
It’s good to see the
camaraderie within.
We’ve got them ready to go wherever they are needed.”
The 181st, 519th, and the
138th Quartermaster Company, Brazil, Ind., offered support late
Saturday night as they sand bagged critical low-lying areas
surrounding Terre Haute Regional Hospital. In
Terre Haute,
Thompson ditch was overflowing in front of the hospital and as the
flood waters rushed into the neighborhoods,
Rea
Park
and surrounding areas. Across the street more than 50 Air and Army
Guard personnel focused their attention on the main utility
facilities supporting the hospital.
“We provided sand bags around their operational
and back-up facilities,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Vedder, commander,
519th CSSB. “This was a successful joint operation and everyone has
been positive and motivated.”
Air and Army Guardsmen are tasked with
supporting two missions, Federal and State. All Indiana Guard units
have been tasked with supporting missions overseas; including Iraq
and Afghanistan,
but unlike their active duty counterparts, Guard units are ready to
deploy and support a state-wide mission as well.
“This is a situation where a community is in
need of our support,” said Jensen.
“We
are the Guard. Air and Army, it is our duty to support the needs of
state agencies and provide our assets to the relief effort in any
way we can.”
The National Guard continued supporting relief
efforts in
Indiana
under the direction from Indiana National Guard Headquarters
personnel.
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