256th Guardsmen continue to assist with flood response

Courtesy Photo | Louisiana National Guardsmen with the 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion instruct inmates and demonstrate the proper way to construct sand-filled HESCO barriers in an effort to prevent possible backwater flooding in Assumption Parish, La., following the opening of the Morganza Spillway, May 18, 2011.  

BATON ROUGE, LA, UNITED STATES

05.23.2011

Courtesy Story

Louisiana National Guard

By Sgt. Jewel Davenport

BATON ROUGE, La. – Soldiers from the 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, headquartered in Plaquemine, La., have been conducting various missions in the past weeks assisting local and state authorities with the rising waters of the Mississippi River.

Throughout the response, the 256th BSTB have set up Tiger Dam water-diversion systems, supported installation of HESCO basket barriers, identified possible evacuation points, and more for parishes including Iberville, Assumption, Ascension, East Baton Rouge and West Baton Rouge.

One of the first missions the battalion received was to employ Tiger Dams in Pierre Part and Bayou L’ourse.

“The purpose of the Tiger Dam is to raise the height of the levees in lower level areas to prevent flooding,” said Spc. Joseph Breeding of Ethel.

They also conducted reconnaissance missions to identify “lily pads”, or evacuation points, to be used in the event that areas begin to flood, according to 1st Lt. Jessica Plummer of St. Martinville.

Soldiers from the 256th BSTB also supported the set up of sand-filled HESCO barriers along the levees of Assumption Parish. Teams instructed inmates and demonstrated how to properly set up the barriers, said Spc. Michael Powell of Lafayette.

The battalion currently has soldiers assisting local authorities with patrolling areas of the levee in East Baton Rouge Parish as a safety measure to impede vehicular and foot traffic.

Search and rescue teams have also been established in order to assist with notifications and evacuation of citizens who inhabit areas outside the Atchafalaya Basin.

• Date Taken: 05.23.2011
• Date Posted: 05.24.2011 11:17
• Story ID: 70977
• Location: BATON ROUGE, LA, US