Photo By Sgt. Ann Knudson | North Dakota Guardsman Lt. Col. David Skalicky, Bismarck, N.D., is participating in...... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard conducted its annual flood response exercise Feb. 12-13 at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck. The purpose of the exercise is to further refine procedures in the event the Guard is ordered to respond in support of civil authorities to combat spring flooding. This exercise was the culmination of the Guard’s planning process that began last November.
“This flood response exercise familiarized Guardsmen in new positions with our standard procedures and shared lessons learned from previous response efforts,” said Lt. Col. Brent Naslund, Director of Military Support to Civil Authorities for the N.D. National Guard. “As with previous flood emergencies, we’ll continue to support civilian authorities with the same type of services as before.”
Representatives from all sections of the N.D. National Guard that play a role in emergency response participated in the exercise. The exercise scenario simulated a week of warm temperatures leading to a rapid melt which was complicated by steady rainfall. Rising flood waters created the need for flood barriers, generators, dike security patrols, traffic control, sandbagging, quick reaction forces and evacuation assistance. Exercise messages flowed to the participants which led to operations orders that issued instructions to several hundred notional National Guard members rushing to assist civil authorities.
“The purpose of the exercise is to fine tune everyone’s thinking on what they need to do in the event we are ordered to respond to flooding,” said Col. Mike Wobbema, the Director of Joint Staff, North Dakota National Guard. “One of the lessons we have learned is that we are not in this alone. During the 2009 flood fight we were assisted by Guardsmen from several states.”
Although not directly participating in the flood response exercise, representatives from South Dakota, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa were present to discuss their potential flood situations and how each state might assist each other if necessary. Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers, representatives of United States Northern Command were also on hand last weekend to pre-coordinate possible support. One of USNORTHCOM’s missions is to coordinate defense support of civil authorities.
Naslund pointed out that the Guard tries to prepare for all potential missions, but it is impossible to predict every possible scenario. It is important to remain flexible and plan well in advance, as the Guard has done for years.
“Because of current snow and weather conditions we are preparing for melt and flooding conditions similar to those experienced in spring 2009,” said Naslund. “Combining lessons learned from 2009 and 2010 have guided this year’s preparation.
“For example, in 2009, we realized the value of having a joint command in the Red River Valley area, which saw the Army and Air Guard working together. This year we’re setting up a joint task force from the beginning of our response efforts. Each year we learn a little more, improve on how we do business,” Naslund added.
The National Guard is the first military responder to emergencies or disasters and always as a supporting agency rather than a lead agency. The biggest difference between this year’s potential Guard response as compared to previous years’ response is the number of Soldiers and Airmen available if needed. Currently, only a dozen Guardsmen are mobilized, far fewer than during the response efforts during 2009 and 2010 spring flooding.
| Date Taken: | 02.13.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 02.16.2011 22:48 |
| Story ID: | 65571 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, ND, US |
| Web Views: | 36 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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