Connecticut Guard responds to neighbor's call for help

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy | Massachusetts Guard members are getting a helping hand today as they continue to assist with recovery operations from a severe winter storm that dropped ice, freezing rain and sleet throughout the region, Dec. 11.  

ARLINGTON, VA, UNITED STATES

12.16.2008

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Jon Soucy 

National Guard Bureau

By Staff Sgt. Jon Soucy
National Guard Bureau

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Massachusetts Guard members are getting a helping hand today as they continue to assist with recovery operations from a severe winter storm that dropped ice, freezing rain and sleet throughout the region, Dec. 11.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick has doubled the number of his Guardsmen on duty with the call-up of about 700 bringing the total to almost 1,500 personnel.

He also requested assistance yesterday from the governor of Connecticut under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. He specifically asked for help in route clearance and debris removal operations.

The Connecticut Guard will provide 23 personnel as well as equipment ranging from chainsaws to mobile excavating equipment, said John Whitford, the state public affairs officer. They are expected to arrive in the Springfield, Mass., area today.

"This request came down very fast, and they came on state active duty late last night," he said. "We had close to 40 volunteers, but only 23 were needed."

The Soldiers are from the 192nd Engineering Battalion of Stratford, Conn., the 248th Engineer Company of Norwich, Conn., the 250th Engineering Company of New London, Conn., and the 246th and 256th Firefighting Detachments of East Lyme, Conn.

Whitford said this battalion is "unique," because it has the only authorized chainsaw operators in the state. "So they have these special skills sets to help out. They can hit the ground running when they get in state and get their taskings and immediately go to work."

Massachusetts' additional Guard personnel will assist in the recovery efforts with chainsaws, communications equipment, front end loaders, dump trucks, armories, water and fuel transportation and generators. They will also provide security at more than 60 shelters while augmenting local police in communities.

The National Guard was tasked with performing 160 simultaneous missions in the state, according to a release from the Massachusetts National Guard. And as of 5 a.m., today, 54 of those missions were completed while 89 missions remain ongoing.

Guard members from both states are expected to be on duty through the weekend, said Guard officials.

In New Hampshire, more than 350 Soldiers from 197th Fires Brigade and 54th Troop Command are operating in the Concord and Manchester areas. They are providing shelter support, security operations, debris clearing and commodity distribution.

A staging area also has been established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency at Pease Air National Guard Base with generators, cots and Meals Ready to Eat.

• Date Taken: 12.16.2008
• Date Posted: 12.16.2008 13:32
• Story ID: 27763
• Location: ARLINGTON, VA, US