Photo By Staff Sgt. Julio Olivencia Jr | Twenty Airmen assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing deployed to Putnam County, New York,...... read more read more
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PUTNAM VALLEY, N.Y. (Mar. 5, 2018)—The buzz of chainsaws and rumble of diesel engines echoed on Barger Street, a rural road in Putnam Valley, New York, as Air National Guardsmen, along with Putnam County, and Town of Putnam Valley highway department workers, worked diligently to clear the road of fallen trees left behind from last weeks major snow storm.
Twenty Guardsmen assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing were part of the state’s Immediate Response Force that deployed to Putnam County.
The IRF consists of Army and Air Guardsman from across the state who are activated to help local government mitigate the effects of storms and other disasters.
Some of the Guardsmen on Barger Street used chainsaws to cut up large trees and a skid steers to haul the logs away while other directed traffic and hand-carried debris from the road.
Many portions of the Hudson Valley and surrounding areas are still without power, in large part due to downed trees from the high winds accompanying the storm.
Tech. Sgt. Anthony Galioto, a loadmaster, said the Guardsmen were there to augment the workers.
“We are backfilling the need for extra manpower because of the amount of trees that came down and are blocking roadways and stopping power lines from being repaired,” Galioto said.
Tech. Sgt. Bryan Wolf, a heavy equipment operator, was supervising as the skid steer came back and forth taking load of cut up logs and branches.
He said the narrow road made it difficult to operate and it was made more difficult by traffic.
“Safety first,” Wolf said of his priorities at the site. “Watching out for the heavy equipment, being careful with the chainsaw, and allowing the equipment to move the heavy wood.”
County and town employees worked side-by-side with the Guardsman, cutting trees, carrying branches, and operating machinery.
Keith Havilland, a driver with the county, said the Guardsmen were a great help.
“It’s that much less we have to do here so we can work others places,” Havilland said. “It helps out a lot.”
The team continued their work throughout the day and were prepared to work as long as they were needed.
“It’s part of being in the Guard, it’s our duty,” Wolf said. “It’s nice to help out.”
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.05.2018 13:21 |
| Story ID: | 268136 |
| Location: | PUTNAM VALLEY, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 362 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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