By Staff Sgt. Jeff Lowry
120th Public Affairs Detachment
GRAND ISLE, La. – When the Louisiana National Guard goes to work, no job is too large. After Hurricane Gustav, shovels and 60-pound bags gave way to loaders, backhoes, dozers and dump trucks as Guardsmen filled four-cubic yard sandbags weighing close to 800 pounds each in the continuing effort to repair damaged levees in Grand Isle, La.
"We are filling in these levee breaches so Grand Isle won't take on as much water as Hurricane Ike or another storm surge hits," said Sgt. Jessie Garrick, of Covington, La., a squad leader with the 843rd Engineer Company of the 205th Engineer Battalion.
Grand Isle, a barrier island, coastal town and Louisiana's most southern community, is highly susceptible to storm activity. Besides damage to infrastructure, storm waves have already deposited sand beyond Highway 1, which is about 600 feet away from the shore.
"It seems every time something comes along, Grand Isle gets hit," said Garrick. "But this is the worst I've seen."
His platoon leader, Sgt. 1st Class Russell Jenkins agreed. "We're just trying to get the levee back to the way it was," Russell said.
The effort to repair the breached levee and minimize future damage involved hard work and long hours by Guardsmen and civilian contractors working side-by-side.
"They have been working around the clock," said Jenkins of his Soldiers' efforts. There were 32 Soldiers with the 843rd on the levee detail working split shifts, day and night, to complete the mission and protect the town.
According to the Soldiers, residents were happy with their efforts. "Everyone I come across is very appreciative," said Jenkins.
Shane Landry, a Grand Isle resident, thought the same. "The whole National Guard is doing a great job," he said.
National Guard Soldiers continue clean up in numerous areas around the state as well as numerous other patrols, debris removal and commodity distribution support.
| Date Taken: |
09.13.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
09.13.2008 10:48 |
| Story ID: |
23600 |
| Location: |
US |
| Web Views: |
229 |
| Downloads: |
89 |
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