Guard Aids Bismarck, Mandan Residents as Communities Brace for Rising Flood Waters

Photo By David Lipp | Spc. Shane Vondall, left, and Pvt. Jonathon Nguyen, both of the 816th Engineer Company, signal to vehicles at a traffic control point on Burleigh Avenue. south Bismarck, N.D., May 26. The North Dakota National Guard soldiers are positioned at the traffic control point to efficiently process flood fighting assets, resources and vehicles to the front line of the flood fight along the Missouri River in Bismarck, and also to restrict unauthorized people from entering the area.  

BISMARCK, ND, UNITED STATES

05.26.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Billie Jo Lorius 

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

BISMARCK, N.D. - Approximately 650 North Dakota National Guard members have been activated and are working side by side with the residents of Bismarck and Mandan, N.D., as these communities for a potential flood. Additionally, more than 30 are conducting patrols on approximately 21 miles of levees in Minot that stretch to Burlington.

In Bismarck and Mandan, soldiers and airmen are conducting sandbagging operations, dike construction and manning traffic control points. In Bismarck, Guardsmen had filled approximately 60,000 sandbags so far at the Fairgrounds (sandbag central) and 55,000 filled at the Northern Plains Commerce Center (NPCC).

National Guard teams also assisted with building dikes, transporting approximately 3,000 feet of HESCO barriers, providing technical guidance on dike construction and manning 6 traffic control points. Guard personnel also transported two trailers of filled sandbags from Bismarck Sandbag Central to Mandan, one to the sandbag fill station at Collins/Old Red Trail and the other to the site near Raging Rivers in Mandan. Two sandbag machines from Fargo will be transported to Mandan by this evening.

"Though this is a difficult situation, your Guard is there to help their fellow North Dakotans. Be assured that our Guardsmen bring experience after participating in emergency response operations for flooding the past three springs." said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general.

Gov. Jack Dalrymple activated Guard members May 24 to assist in Ward, Burleigh and Morton Counties. As the first military responders, the North Dakota National Guard remains ready to provide personnel and equipment to assist our communities and state when ordered by the Governor. About 3,300 Soldiers and Airmen are available to perform flood-response duties if needed.

Future operations may include levee patrol and operating quick reaction forces around the area to be available quickly to respond to emergencies or dike breeches.

Burleigh County has requested residents in three rural Bismarck neighborhoods voluntarily evacuate; Briardale Area, Hogue Island and Fox Island. The evacuations are precautionary at this point.

This spring, the North Dakota National Guard spent 32 days on flood operations across the state, with 1,486 Guardsmen contributing to the effort at some point during the mission.

• Date Taken: 05.26.2011
• Date Posted: 05.26.2011 19:53
• Story ID: 71170
• Location: BISMARCK, ND, US