Courtesy Photo | The threat of ice jams like this one on the Mohawk River near Schenectady, N.Y. on...... read more read more
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MALONE, N.Y.-- One hundred and thirty New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were on active duty in case rains and warmer weather caused ice jams and flooding on rivers in upstate and northern New York. The Soldiers and airmen were placed on duty Sunday, Jan 21.
The New York National Guard members were placed on state active duty at the direction of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo by the state Division of Homeland and Security and Emergency Services.
Extremely low temperatures had resulted in ice building up on the rivers that flow into Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River in northern New York, as well as the Mohawk River, which runs from Utica, N.Y. to the Hudson River just north of Albany.
Higher temperatures expected this week will lead to increased river water levels due to melting snow and precipitation falling as rain instead of snow. The ice left on the rivers can cause natural dams leading to flood, according to Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Peno, an Air Force meteorologist and the chief enlisted advisor to the New York National Guard’s Joint Operations Section.
The most critical period for flooding was expected to be from Tuesday, Jan. 23 to Thursday, Jan. 25, Peno said.
New York State emergency officials asked that the National Guard put Soldiers and Airmen on duty with high-axle trucks and Humvees who were prepared to aid local governments if required. Soldiers and Airmen were also directed to be prepared to act as observers to report on river conditions.
On Sunday, Jan. 21, small teams were assigned to Malone, N.Y. in Franklin County; Plattsburgh, N.Y. in Clinton County, and emergency response forces were stationed at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y.; and the Glenville Armed Forces Reserve Center near Schenectady, N.Y and at the Binghamton, N.Y. Armory.
There were 12 Soldiers and four vehicles in Malone, 13 Soldiers and four vehicles in Plattsburgh, 25 Airmen and five vehicles at Hancock Field, 25 Soldiers and five vehicles at the Thompson Road Armory which is also on Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, and 25 Soldiers and five vehicles at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Scotia. A small maintenance team was on call at the Utica Armory.
The Guard Soldiers and Airmen were told to prepare to be on duty for seven days.
| Date Taken: | 01.22.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 01.22.2018 16:06 |
| Story ID: | 262833 |
| Location: | NY, US |
| Web Views: | 143 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, NY National Guard Soldiers, Airmen on duty in case of flooding in Northern New York, by Eric Durr, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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