Article Body
South Dakota National Guard
Public Affairs Office
2823 West Main Street
Rapid City, SD 57702
May 28, 2011
Contacts:
MAJ Brendan Murphy – 605.737.6721 (office) 605.431.8753 (cell) - brendan.murphy1@us.army.mil
OC Chad Carlson – 605.737.6268 (office) 605.390.3606 (cell) - chad.carlson@us.army.mil
SSG Theanne Tangen – 605.737.6981 (office) 605.690.4844 (cell) - theanne.tangen@us.army.mil
1LT Mike Bierle – 605.737.6978 (office) 605.490.8535 (cell) – michael.bierle@us.army.mil
SD National Guard on ‘Alert’ for flood relief efforts
OC Chad Carlson
SDNG Public Affairs Office
PIERRE, S.D. - Gov. Dennis Daugaard warned this morning that flooding along the Missouri River may be worse than earlier anticipated, and he urged those living in affected areas to prepare for the worst.
As a result, he has alerted all available South Dakota Army and Air National Guardsmen to be prepared to mobilize.
The governor’s warning is based on preliminary information from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Heavy rains are forecast this weekend in the Upper Missouri River Basin, and additional water flowing into the reservoir system will only worsen flooding, said the Governor.
“We have alerted all available National Guardsmen in South Dakota so we can activate any, as we may need without delay,” said Daugaard.
“This alert is essentially a notice to Soldiers and Airmen to pack a bag, pack their equipment and be ready so if we call their unit they can quickly assemble and move out,” said Maj. Gen. Timothy Reisch, adjutant general for the South Dakota National Guard. “It’s a historic event in the South Dakota National Guard. Especially if we end up with a total mobilization.”
Approximately 327 South Dakota Guard members arrived in Pierre and Fort Pierre last night and immediately began flood relief efforts.
“Their primary focus has been sandbagging; filling sand bags for community members to place them as needed,” said Lt. Col. Aaron Jordan, liaison officer between the South Dakota National Guard and the state Emergency Operation Center.
National Guardsmen are assisting with sandbag operations near the National Guard armory in Pierre and at the Expo Center in Fort Pierre.
Guardsmen have reinforced various well houses, are working on reinforcing the wastewater treatment plant in Pierre and are prepared to pick up additional missions to include security and traffic control.
An additional 87 Guardsmen are scheduled to arrive tomorrow and another 200 on Monday afternoon.
“The citizens of Pierre and Fort Pierre have been working for a number of days now, and have done a lot of work,” said Reisch. “The fact that the National Guard is here provides comfort and self assurance to this community.”
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Maj. Brendan Murphy, public affairs officer at (605) 737-6721 or (605) 431-8753 (cell), or e-mail brendan.murphy1@us.army.mil.