National Guard active in flood support

Fort SmithNews on the Wire

by The City Wire staff ([email protected]) May 6, 2011 12:38 pm 82 views 

story info submitted by Capt. Chris Heathscott, public affairs officer, Arkansas National Guard

More than  300 Arkansas National Guardsmen are working flood response missions in the state with hundreds more on standby as the Guard continues to receive new assignments from the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

The Guard’s main effort is in Woodruff County, where more than 100 Soldiers and Airmen began arriving Friday morning (May 5) at 1:45 a.m. The troops were originally en route to Prairie County to assist with evacuation efforts there, but were diverted to Woodruff County as a result of an immediate need for emergency evacuation of citizens in the area as high water prepared to break above the local levees.

The Troops are continuing to support the county primarily in the communities of Cotton Plant, Patterson, Gregory and McClelland.

The Guard’s efforts in Prairie County continue with 100 Soldiers working to provide security and evacuation support in the community of Des Arc, with an additional 75 Soldiers heading en route to assist. The mission in Prairie County also grew to include 20 Soldiers assisting civil authorities with traffic control points with yesterday’s closure of I-40 due to flooding.

In addition to these most recent missions, the Arkansas National Guard continues to support the community of Pocahontas with 32 Soldiers supporting civil authorities with security in the flood affected area. The Troops began the Randolph County mission on April 30, with the mission anticipated to last a total of 10 days.

In total, 445 Soldiers and Airmen have participated in support to various communities throughout the state affected by severe storms and flooding.

In addition to supporting a total of 47 state active duty missions so far this year, the Arkansas National Guard also has approximately 350 Soldiers and Airmen deployed in support of operations overseas. Another 3,000 Arkansas Guardsmen are training out of state for a potential deployment anticipated in Spring 2012.