Flood duty commences for North Dakota National Guard

Photo By David Lipp | U.S. soldier with the North Dakota Army National Guard Master Sgt. David Hatten, of Fargo, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, is positioned at a traffic control point April 22, 2013, at the intersection of 25th Street and 44th Avenue South, Fargo, N.D. The traffic control point is in place to restrict all but essential flood-fighting traffic in preparation of a possibly historic Red River Valley flood. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by SMSgt. David H. Lipp/Released)  

FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, UNITED STATES

04.24.2013

Story by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp 

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

FARGO, N.D. - The first North Dakota National Guard members to assist in 2013 flood operations began duty Monday in Fargo, and those efforts increased yesterday and again today. Nearly 80 National Guard members are now serving on flood-related missions in Fargo. The Soldiers are primarily managing traffic flow for trucks hauling clay and sandbags needed for levee construction.

"After having joined with our community volunteers and city and state agencies for three of the past four years to protect our communities from flooding, we are well experienced in what it will again take to hold back the rivers that threaten homes," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. "As we begin flood duty in Fargo, we continue to closely monitor the situation in other parts of the state, and we will respond quickly if called upon."

When activated by the governor in response to requests through the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, the North Dakota National Guard serves as the first military responders during a natural disaster or emergency in the state. The first requests for assistance during 2013 flooding came from the City of Fargo, which is being supported with members who serve with the North Dakota Army National Guard's 191st Military Police Company.

Those guardsmen, who are on State Active Duty orders, are working around the clock in 12-hour shifts. The main force of effort for the Guard in this early stage of the flood response is to help maintain safety for the public while ensuring ease of transportation for those involved in constructing levees to protect the community.

Since 2009, the North Dakota National Guard has contributed more than 125,000 duty days to flood operations in the state.

Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,900 soldiers and about 2,400 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, about 70 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while more than 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that's more than four times the national average.

• Date Taken: 04.24.2013
• Date Posted: 04.24.2013 10:23
• Story ID: 105732
• Location: FARGO, NORTH DAKOTA, US