Arkansas National Guard missions grow after floods, tornadoes

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

The Arkansas National Guard now has approximately 170 Soldiers and Airmen assisting in Faulkner, Garland and Carroll Counties after tornadoes and high winds hammered the state last night (April 25).

The Guard initially deployed 85 Soldiers and Airmen to support civil authorities with search operations, route clearance, security and traffic control in Vilonia, with the mission growing this afternoon to include the delivery of approximately 200 tarps to the Faulkner County community.

In Garland County, the day began with the arrival of 20 Soldiers to assist with similar missions in the vicinity of Hot Springs Village. The Guard’s role increased to a total of approximately 60 Soldiers and heavy equipment to assist with route clearance. The mission grew to include two backhoe loaders, a frontend loader, a bulldozer, a wrecker and four tractor trailers to haul the equipment.

The most recent mission tasked to the Guard came this afternoon as Carroll County braces for potential flooding. Twenty Soldiers were called to assist in the communities of Beaver and Holiday Island following an assessment with civil authorities this morning.

High water levels in nearby Beaver Lake reportedly resulted in the need to open floodgates to ease the potential for severe flooding in the area. The lower lying areas of the two communities remain at high risk of flooding which sparked the need for evacuation as a precautionary measure. The Guard was called to assist with the door to door notification in the affected area.

The duration of these missions for the Guard remain undetermined at this time. Additional damage assessments are anticipated tomorrow and the Guard stands ready to respond as necessary in the event more support is required.

MISSION DETAILS
Mission #1 (11-024)
Location:  Beaver and Holiday Island (Carroll County)
Mission:  Civilian Evacuation Notification
Supporting Unit:  142nd Fires Brigade
Number of Personnel:  20
Equipment:  5 Humvees, 2 Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTV)
Mission Status:  Ongoing

Mission #2(11-025)
Location:  Hot Springs Village (Garland County)
Mission 1:  Route Clearance
Supporting Units:  39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 875th Engineer
Battalion, Robinson Maneuver Training Center’s Institute Support Unit
Number of Personnel:  58
Equipment:  7 Humvees, 2 Backhoe Loaders, 1 Bulldozer, 4 Tractor Trailers, 1
Frontend Loader, 15 Chainsaws, 1 Wrecker, 1 Fuel Tanker (for Military Vehicle use)
Mission Status:  Ongoing

Mission #3 (11-026)
Location:  Vilonia (Faulkner County)
Mission:  Security
Supporting Unit:  189th Airlift Wing
Number of Personnel:  15
Equipment:  5 Humvees, 3 Security Forces Trucks, 1 Mobile Emergency Operations Center
Mission Status:  Ongoing

Mission #4 (11-027)
Location:  Vilonia (Faulkner County)
Mission:  County Support Team (Search, Security, Traffic Control, Route Clearance)
Supporting Unit:  39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade, 189th Airlift Wing
Number of Personnel:  78
Equipment:  28 Vehicles, 1 Fuel Tanker (for Military Vehicle use), 10 Chainsaws
Mission Status:  Ongoing

Mission #5 (11-028)
Location:  Vilonia (Faulkner County)
Mission:  Tarp Haul
Supporting Unit:  Robinson Maneuver Training Center Institute Support Unit
Number of Personnel:  2
Equipment:  200 Tarps, 1 Truck
Mission Status:  Ongoing