Texas Guardsmen, local authorities are ready to respond to Hurricane season

Photo By Sgt. Elizabeth Pena | Texas Guardsmen along with other service members transport mock patients to the military aircraft during an evacuation exercise at the Valley International Airport in Harlingen, Texas, June 9, 2016. The Texas Division of Emergency Management along with the support of Texas Military Department and other state and local authorities conduct a state level hurricane-preparedness exercise June 1-9, 2016 across various Texas cities. The Texas Military Department practiced both general population and medical evacuation through embarkation hubs in the Rio Grande Valley. (Photo by U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. Elizabeth Pena/Released)

 AUSTIN, TX, UNITED STATES

06.24.2016
Story by Sgt. Elizabeth Pena
Texas Military Department

AUSTIN, Texas – This has been a busy year for the Lone Star State with the recent record-breaking floods. Texas Guardsmen conducted more than 135 missions, rescuing more than 900 people and 310 pets May 29-June 12, 2016, after severe weather caused flooding to large portions of the region.

But the job doesn’t stop there. As Texas rolls into Hurricane season, the Guardsman must be trained and ready to react to emergency disasters when the state calls upon them.

“You have to be ready for whatever is coming at you, if you don’t entertain the training aspect of it,” said Matthew Geller, Task Force 1 Helicopter Search and Rescue Technician, “you’re looking at the risk being great, and you can’t sacrifice that much.”

This year, the Texas Military Department and first responders conducted a state-level hurricane preparedness exercise across various Texas cities, June 2-9, 2016. This is the third-annual exercise for Guardsman, but the first one to include outside civil agencies.

“Two years ago we started with just the Army and just our internal components in the Air Operation Center, said Shawna Wood, air operation superintendent at Camp Mabry. “Last year we started involving our interagencies such as, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, Incident Awareness Association and outside agencies, the Air Force, and then this year the big step was Texas Department Emergency Management.”

Texas Military Department set up an Air Operation Center headquartered in Camp Mabry, Austin to coordinate the moving parts throughout the exercise along with over 11 state and local civil agencies.

“The Air Operation Center is a multi-agency air coordination center, and is hosted and managed by the Texas Military Department under the authority of the State Operation Center,” said Col. Tom Suelzer, director of operation for the Texas Air National Guard, and for the state he serves as the Air Operation Center director. “So when there is a state level or higher response, we’re tasked by the state to set up the Air Operation Center to help develop an air operation support strategy.”

The scenario was based on a fictitious Category 5 Hurricane “Tejas” which struck the Lower Rio Grande Valley, causing 1.1 million people to evacuate. In turn, Austin experienced widespread flooding due to the weather patterns.

Nearly 500 service members from the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, and Texas State Guard participated in the state-level exercise.

Several even acted as role players for the medevac piece of the exercise.
“For the past two years we’ve done search and rescue and on ground we’ve done aeromedical preparation,” said Wood. “But this was the first time we’ve actually moved the patients so this is a stepping-stone for what we’ve done the last couple years.”

Having these types of training's help Texan guardsmen and first responders stay ready for natural disasters.

“It’s been eight years since we’ve had any kind of major hurricane activity and a lot of key leaders up and down our change of command have changed, said Wood. “Our partnership with Texas Division of Emergency Management is very important so it’s building those relationships so that when the time comes we can put them into play.”

Coast Guard responds to flooding in West Virginia

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington Western River Flood Punt Team getting locals to safety near Clendenin, West Virginia, June 24, 2016. The team is assisting the West Virginia State Emergency Operation Center by providing disaster and relief assistance in response to the widespread flooding. U.S. Coast Guard photo

U.S. Coast Guard District 8

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington Western River Flood Punt Team getting locals to safety near Clendenin, West Virginia, June 24, 2016. The team is assisting the West Virginia State Emergency Operation Center by providing disaster and relief assistance in response to the widespread flooding. U.S. Coast Guard photo

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington Western River Flood Punt Team providing lifejackets to locals near Clendenin, West Virginia, June 24, 2016. The team has assisted with transporting 20 locals from isolated areas to safety, as well as delivering water and responding to 911 calls. U.S. Coast Guard photo

Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington Western River Flood Punt Team provides lifejackets to locals near Clendenin, West Virginia, June 24, 2016. The team is assisting the West Virginia State Emergency Operation Center by providing disaster and relief assistance in response to the widespread flooding. U.S. Coast Guard photo

Army Reserve’s 811th Ordnance Company Assists Rainelle, WV during Flooding

Members of the 811th Ordnance Company, 321st Ordnance Battalion, 38th Regional Support Group, perform rescue in partnership with local and state emergency first responders in the town of Rainelle, W.Va., following severe weather and flooding throughout the state 24 June, 2016.

RAINELLE, WV, UNITED STATES
06.25.2016
Story by Capt. Sean Delpech
310th Expeditionary Sustainment Command

310th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) PRESS RELEASE
RAINELLE, W.Va. – Approximately 14 Soldiers from the Army Reserve’s 811th Ordnance Company have volunteered to brave flooding waters and mud slides around the city of Rainelle, W.Va. to provide rescue operations, route clearance and shelter in partnership with the town of Rainelle this weekend.

Flooding has reached historic proportions in the Rainelle, West Virginia area, causing massive amounts of property damage and endangering thousands of lives.

The flood prompted the town mayor to request emergency assistance from the 811th Ordnance Company, 321st Ordnance Battalion, 38th Regional Support Group.

The Soldiers of the 811th Ordnance Company became part of a coordinated emergency response effort, using military equipment to clear debris and transport residents to safety, and have housed and fed town residents that were displaced by the flooding in the area.

Forty-four counties in the West Virginia were under a declared state of emergency from Thursday, over the weekend due to high flooding, with many receiving the worst flooding recorded. Local rivers had reached historically high levels. Approximately 500,000 residents lost electricity initially, with many residents of the state left homeless, and at least 26 people recorded as casualties.

Although communities around the state are in the process of recovery, communities such as the town of Rainelle have been left with stranded residents, downed phone lines, damaged infrastructure and blocked roads.

Members of the 811th Ordnance Company, 321st Ordnance Battalion, 38th Regional Support Group, perform rescue operations and emergency assistance in partnership with local and state emergency first responders in the town of Rainelle, W.Va., following severe weather and flooding throughout the state 24 June, 2016.






















Members of the 811th Ordnance Company, 321st Ordnance Battalion, 38th Regional Support Group, perform rescue in partnership with local and state emergency first responders in the town of Rainelle, W.Va., following severe weather and flooding throughout the state 24 June, 2016.

New Mexico National Guard Responds to the Dog Head Fire

The New Mexico National Guard was activated June 15, 2016, to respond to the Dog Head Fire burning south of Tijeras, N.M., in Torrance and Bernalillo Counties. Airmen from the 150th Special Operations Wing are assisting at the Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras, N.M. They are providing vehicle access control, information to citizens arriving, as well as those bringing in donations. In addition, they are assisting the animal services personnel with receipt and logging in of pets as well as delivery of donated food and supplies. (Photo by 2LT Anna Doo, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs)

ALBUQUERQUE, NM, UNITED STATES
06.20.2016
Story by 2nd Lt. Anna Doo
New Mexico National Guard

TIJERAS, N.M. - The New Mexico National Guard was activated June 15, 2016, to respond to the Dog Head Fire burning south of Tijeras, N.M., in Bernalillo and Torrance Counties. Airmen and Soldiers arrived on site to support local law enforcement officials as well as civilian first response organizations.

Beginning on the first full day of State Active Duty on June 16, shifts consisting of more than 20 Airmen from the 150th Special Operations Wing accompanied Bernalillo County Sheriffs and State Police manning road blocks on NM 337 and going door-to-door in mandatory evacuation areas.

Airmen from the 150th SOW were also providing assistance at the Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras, N.M. They provided vehicle access control, information to citizens arriving, as well as those bringing in donations. In addition, they assisted the animal services personnel with receipt of and logging in of pets as well as delivery of donated food and supplies.

Master Sgt. Jessica M. Lamb, 150th Force Support Squadron, said, “We are out here collecting donations, guiding people, making sure the pets and animals are safe, and doing what we can do helping the community. I just wish I could do more,” she said. “This is my way of doing it, wish there was more we could do, but whatever I can do to help.”

On June 17, Soldiers from the 642nd Component Repair Company began providing traffic control points on NM 337 and additional locations in Torrance County keeping citizens from re-entering mandatory evacuation areas. Beginning later that day, Soldiers from the 126th and 919th Military Police Companies began providing presence patrols of residential areas that were evacuated as well as additional traffic control points. The Airmen continued to work in twelve hour shifts alongside their Army, Bernalillo County Sheriffs, Torrance County law enforcement and State Police counterparts.

In addition, about 17 Soldiers with the Army National Guard’s 720th and 1116th Transportation Companies along with resources from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 111th Sustainment Brigade, began conducting water haul missions for livestock in need on June 17. According to 1st Sgt. Julian Gonzales, 1116th Trans. Co. first sergeant, as of midday June 20, the water haul mission had delivered more than 10,400 gallons of water to nine ranchers who chose to not adhere to the mandatory evacuations in order to care for their livestock. Gonzales said these individuals were along the southern and eastern edges of the fire line and needed the National Guard’s assistance in maintaining the welfare of their animals.

Sgt. 1st Class Francisco Aldridge, a Soldier with the 1116th Trans. Co., said, “It’s great working with the locals. They are showing so much appreciation for keeping their livestock fed and watered.” As with many Citizen-Soldiers Aldridge has a personal tie to the affected communities. “My wife’s family is from Chilili, so I have a personal obligation to them,” he said.

An additional liquid resource provided by the water haul mission was to continuously top off the large troughs used by the firefighters to refill their tinder trucks. Gonzales said more than 2,800 gallons had been provided to assist directly with the firefighting efforts. The Soldiers also delivered water to the Torrance County fairgrounds helping to keep cows, dogs, cats, sheep, goats, horses, ducks, chickens and fish alive and hydrated.

One of the large challenges for the Guard and law enforcement officials in these remote locations was communication. Cell phone coverage was spotty at best in some areas and radio communication took some time to establish across the agencies. Fortunately, old-fashioned runners with plenty of fuel in their vehicles helped the flow of information among the organizations remain steady. One solution though, was the arrival of the joint team of the 64th Civil Support Team – Weapons of Mass Destruction who are providing communication assistance along with a specialized Air National Guard mobile communications center.

Throughout the National Guard response to the Dog Head Fire, between 40 and 70 guardsmen have been working round the clock in support of the law enforcement personnel and the emergency management sectors. The Air National Guard has held steady at about 25 personnel each shift with the Army National Guard’s numbers increasing from about 20 the first day to more than 45 each twelve hour rotation by June 20. All missions the National Guard is involved in are directed through the Emergency Operations Centers beginning at the local level, up to the state and NMNG level, then back down to the Soldiers and Airmen actually on the ground. The National Guard has numerous capabilities, resources, and assets but each mission is carefully vetted and managed by those emergency operations agencies.

The New Mexico National Guard Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Andrew Salas, visited the Airmen and Soldiers at the Tijeras emergency operations center at the James McGrane Public Safety Complex. “We don’t normally have the level of quick reaction and early-on support of the Air Guard like we’ve seen with this particular fire. Our Army Guard brothers and sisters are normally first on scene when there’s a domestic emergency. You here in the Air Guard are somewhat of pioneers with the scope of contribution in this particular incident,” said Salas. “Your governor is very proud of you and of what you do to defend America but also what you do to protect the lives and property of our citizens here at home.”

The Governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez, spoke with the New Mexico National Guard's Airmen and Soldiers during their shift change June 18, 2016. She expressed her gratitude to the service members and their quick response to the citizens of New Mexico. Martinez spoke of the calming nature the Guard brings to the situation and the professionalism they have displayed throughout the operation.

“I just wanted to come out and thank you all very much,” said Martinez. “You are responsive every single time that we’ve had an emergency. I just want to let you know we are grateful. You have been integral to securing those roadways that are blocked so there is no entry into the evacuated areas. The people that are terrified right now are extremely grateful that you are here.”

The Airmen and Soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard live and work in these communities. They are quick to volunteer whenever the Governor calls a State of Emergency, eager to assist their fellow New Mexicans in times of need. They will continue to conduct missions as long as directed to do so, then recover and be prepared to help when called upon again.

The New Mexico National Guard was activated June 15, 2016, to respond to the Dog Head Fire burning south of Tijeras, N.M., in Torrance and Bernalillo Counties. Airmen from the 150th Special Operations Wing are assisting at the Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras, N.M. They are providing vehicle access control, information to citizens arriving, as well as those bringing in donations. In addition, they are assisting the animal services personnel with receipt and logging in of pets as well as delivery of donated food and supplies. (Photo by 2LT Anna Doo, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs)

The New Mexico National Guard was activated June 15, 2016, to respond to the Dog Head Fire burning south of Tijeras, N.M., in Torrance and Bernalillo Counties. Airmen from the 150th Special Operations Wing are assisting at the Los Vecinos Community Center in Tijeras, N.M. They are providing vehicle access control, information to citizens arriving, as well as those bringing in donations. In addition, they are assisting the animal services personnel with receipt and logging in of pets as well as delivery of donated food and supplies. Master Sgt. Jessica M. Lamb unloads donated bags of dog food at the center. (Photo by 2LT Anna Doo, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs)

The New Mexico National Guard was activated June 15, 2016, to respond to the Dog Head Fire burning south of Tijeras, N.M., in Bernalillo and Torrance Counties. Airmen from the 150th Special Operations Wing are accompanying Bernalillo County Sheriffs and State Police manning road blocks on NM 337 and going door-to-door in mandatory evacuation areas. Soldiers from the 642nd Component Repair Company are providing checkpoint control on NM 337 and additional areas in Torrance County. Beginning late on June 17, Soldiers from the 126th and 919th Military Police Companies began providing presence patrols of residential areas that have been evacuated. In addition, the 720th Transportation Company along with resources from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 111th Sustainment Brigade are conducting water haul missions for livestock in need. The New Mexico National Guard will continue to assist their neighbors protecting their lives and property during this natural disaster. (Photo by 2LT Anna Doo, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs)

The Governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez, surveyed the Dog Head Fire while on a flight with the New Mexico National Guard's Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation on her way to an update briefing and press conference in Estancia, N.M. The New Mexico National Guard was activated June 15, 2016, to respond to the Dog Head Fire burning south of Tijeres, N.M., in Bernalillo County. The New Mexico National Guard will continue to assist their neighbors protecting their lives and property during this natural disaster. (Photo by 2LT Anna Doo, New Mexico National Guard Public Affairs)

ALTUS AFB, Structural Collapse

Jake Babcock, City of Altus Fire Department firefighter, directs the placement of a two-by-four during a structural collapse exercise, June 21, 2016, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The joint training between the Altus Fire Department and Altus Air Force Base Fire Departments was held in an effort to improve the structural collapse rescue techniques and the relationship between the base and City of Altus Fire Departments. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Jackson N. Haddon/Released).

ALTUS AFB, OK, UNITED STATES
06.21.2016
Story by Airman Jackson Haddon
97th Air Mobility Wing, Public Affairs

At Altus Air Force Base, firefighters trained for that scenario.

“Today we’re training for a structural collapse,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jessica Packard, 97th Civil Engineers Squadron fire department shift assistant chief. “We no longer have Rescue II down at the fire academy which would include heavy operations and structural collapse. So this is some really good training for us.”

Packard went on to express the importance of this training and why they’re doing it.

“This is important for us to do in case there is some sort of weapon of mass destruction or bomb explosion at a place that might cause the building to collapse,” said Packard. “This allows us to get to that person who’s underneath all of that and get them to safety.”

The firefighters on Altus Air Force Base try to prepare for every scenario and the City of Altus Fire Department is ready to help out.

“We have them as backup and they have us if they ever need us,” said Drew George, City of Altus firefighter. “We have the potential to respond to a big scale emergency with Altus Air Force Base. The base firefighters don’t come off base unless we ask them to but it’s nice to know that they’re here.”

Most people know Oklahoma has tornados, but there’s something else that can cause structural collapse as well.

“We’re having more and more earthquakes in Oklahoma,” said George. “The chance is getting bigger for something like that to happen.”

This training is also a great opportunity for civilians and military to work together as a team.

“It’s a great cross training exercise because whenever you respond to something like a building collapse. Neither Altus AFB or Altus Fire Department are really setup as a single unit to respond to a large scale building collapse,” said George. “You need lots of manpower and that way you bring in lots of different fire departments to help setup on a large scale building collapse or a large scale trench rescue.”

The joint training occurred at the base Burn Pit.

“You all really have a great facility out here,” said George. “You don’t find a setup like this anywhere, there might be two or three setups around the state that will stand up to this one. It’s nice for them to let us and other different groups come out here and train. They keep it nice and clean and ready to go all the time and we thank you a ton for letting us come out here and train.”

Members from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and the City of Altus Fire Department build a structural support beam during a structural collapse exercise, June 21, 2016, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The joint training between the two departments was held in an effort to improve the structural collapse rescue techniques and the relationship between the base and City of Altus Fire Departments. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Jackson N. Haddon/Released).

Members from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and the City of Altus Fire Department saw a board to build a support structure during a structural collapse exercise, June 20, 2016, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The joint training between the two departments was held in an effort to improve the structural collapse rescue techniques and the relationship between the base and City of Altus Fire Departments. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Jackson N. Haddon/Released).

Members from the 97th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Department and the City of Altus Fire Department are briefed at the base fire department before a structural collapse exercise, June 20, 2016, Altus Air Force Base, Okla. The joint training between the two departments was held in an effort to improve the structural collapse rescue techniques and the relationship between the base and City of Altus Fire Departments. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Airman Jackson N. Haddon/Released).