Photo By 2nd Lt. Jorge Intriago | U.S. Soldiers with the 124th Engineer Company, South Carolina Army National Guard,...... read more read more
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MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. - As flood waters recede from the previous week’s natural disaster, the South Carolina National Guard transitions from a mission of search and rescue and crisis response to that of statewide recovery.
With more than 200 miles of impassable roads, engineers from across the state, along with engineers from the North Carolina National Guard’s 505th Engineer Battalion, assist local counties with infrastructure repairs.
The Palmetto State was hit with record floods that washed away large sections of roads in many parts of the state.
“With roads being out it has caused citizens a large inconvenience to travel to work, school and first responders from getting to affected areas of the state,” said 1st Lt. Jer’Quille Mack, 124th Engineer Company officer.
SCNG Soldiers, with the 124th Horizontal Engineer Company from Saluda, are some of those troops deployed to support Lexington County public works as a haul asset. Their primary mission is transporting sand and clay to repair washed out roads.
“As a Horizontal Engineer Company, working on roads is our specialty and we are getting it done quickly so everyone in the state can get back on their feet,” said Mack.
Their response in rebuilding has made it possible for schools to safely reopen and transport children and bring back a small part of normalcy to the lives of those affected by the floods.
“It feels really great to be able to help. There are alot of people who are need of assistance by keeping South Carolina roads [safely]functioning,” said Mack.
Their job doesn’t stop at roads. They also work around the clock to reinforce pond dams and fix the Columbia Riverfront Canal. During the storm, the canal’s levee walls broke, causing massive flooding throughout Columbia and significantly reduced the capital city’s drinking water supply.
“It is heart-warming to see how everyone is coming together as a community, helping each other. Some contributed by donating food to those working, it’s amazing,” said Mack.
| Date Taken: | 10.16.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.16.2015 17:54 |
| Story ID: | 179159 |
| Location: | COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 226 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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