New York Guard Responds to Flooding In Lake Ontario Area

Courtesy Photo | Members of the New York Guard, the state's volunteer defense force, load sand bags into a truck in Rochester, N.Y. while responding to Lake Ontario flooding. About 30 members of the New York Guard have been among the 200 to 300 personnel responding to the high Lake Ontario waters at the direction of Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The New York Guard is the state's volunteer defense force which augments the New York National Guard. ( Courtesy photo)  

ROCHESTER, NY, UNITED STATES

06.12.2017

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

ROCHESTER—Thirty New York Guard members have been working alongside National Guard and Naval Militia members as part of the state’s response to Lake Ontario’s extra-high waters.

The New York Guard members have conducted a variety of missions ranging from filling sandbags to going door-to-door to see if homeowners need help with flooded basements, said Ed Keyrouze, the New York Guard’s administrative officer.

Warrant Officer Mark Folgert, the officer-in-charge of the New York Guard contingent said that the team has the “right people to hit the ground running.”

Daily operations consist of crews going out to either fill sand bags or being sent to the flooding front to construct the sandbag wall, said Sgt. M.J. Phillips, who is tasked with tracking the employment of personnel.
“The work is physically demanding, but we are all having fun and enjoy what we do.” Said Pvt. Aaron Patnode.

At the peak of operations, which began on May 3, just over 300 New York National Guard, Naval Militia, and New York Guard personnel have been involved in the flood response mission.

Story by PFC Vincenzo Carciofolo, New York Guard

• Date Taken: 06.12.2017
• Date Posted: 06.13.2017 15:40
• Story ID: 237718
• Location: ROCHESTER, NY, US