ST. PAUL,
Minn. — The Minnesota State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) called on the
National Guard to deliver water for use in the disease containment effort as
part of the state’s response to avian influenza.
More than 40
National Guard soldiers and 15 military water trucks from the Willmar-based
682nd Engineer Battalion and the Brooklyn Park-based A Company, 134th Brigade
Support Battalion are being used in the mission. Large amounts of water are
needed in foaming systems being used as part of the depopulation efforts, to
control further spread of avian influenza virus.
“Any time
that we can fill a gap by providing services like this, it is a positive thing
for the guard,” said Cpt. Adam Riedel, the command and control officer in
charge for this activation.
The Guard
members began assisting Monday and will work through Wednesday as additional water
transport resources are identified.
The National
Guard became available following Governor Mark Dayton’s declaration of a
peacetime emergency, which says, “the Adjutant General of Minnesota can order
to state active duty such personnel." The governor extended the emergency
declaration 30 more days.
“We are
pretty proud of the fact that we can help out whenever we can on a state active
duty mission; whether it’s a tornado, avian influenza or floods,” said Riedel.
“A lot of people in uniform in the state of Minnesota joined to do just that.”
The
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security Emergency Management
division (HSEM) activated the SEOC to coordinate the state’s ongoing response
to avian influenza.
“We came up
on a resource shortage,” said Byron Schick, Incident Commander, USDA Veterinary
Service Incident Management Team.
“We brought
in foaming assets but didn’t have the water assets to compliment that. What it
meant is, we would have a delay in using those assets. With the Guard’s assets
we are able to deploy everything we had at one time which is ideal in making an
immediate impact.”
HSEM is
coordinating resource needs with several state agencies including the Minnesota
Board of Animal Health and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
“From
management of the incident we are really doing well,” said Schick. “It is
excellent working with the state, local and especially the county. Using the
county Emergency Operations Center has been fabulous for us. This is an
outstanding collaborative effort right now.”
Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard’s 682nd Engineer Battalion and 134th Brigade Support Battalion ready water tankers to be used to transport water for the Avian Influenza response, April 27, 2015. More than 40 Minnesota National Guardsmen and 15 military water trucks were activated by the State Emergency Operations Center for use following Gov. Mark Dayton’s declaration of a peacetime emergency. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Army Staff Sgt. Johnny J. Angelo III)
