GOWANDA, N.Y. - Forty members of the New York Army National Guard began cleaning up flood damage here Aug. 14 after being mobilized by Gov. David Paterson on Aug. 13.
The Soldiers from the 152nd Engineer Support Company, headquartered at the Connecticut St. Armory in Buffalo, began clearing storm damage from roads in the northwest corner of the village. The company deployed 10 dump trucks and four front-end loaders to clean up storm damage.
"In my time in the Guard, I have certainly seen worse disasters but for the people in this community the situation is very bad," said Capt. Jeff Miles, the company commander.
His unit, part of the 204th Engineer Battalion, was alerted Aug. 11 and, along with a deputy, he arrived in the village of Gowanda early Aug. 12 to see the situation and coordinate with state and local officials for the arrival and deployment of his team.
What he saw were roads covered with slimy mud, broken pavement, trees and other debris and piles of mud encrusted furniture and appliances that home owners had begun placing along the curbs as part of their cleanup efforts.
"Our mission will be to clear the mud and debris from the streets so that both the authorities and the people can move about safely," he said. "Eventually, the accumulated mud and debris will also become a health hazard, especially if it's contaminated by sewage and other materials," he added.
"We will be working closely with public works staff and state and county coordinators," Miller said.
Spc. Bradley Gable, a resident of Gowanda, was one of the bucket loader operators cleaning up after the storm.
"I'm glad to be down here, in a position to help my family and the community," Gable said
Heavy rains ranging from two to six inches struck the area south of Buffalo on Aug. 7 and 8. The rain coupled with the already saturated ground and brought heavy flooding in portions of Western New York.
The towns of Gowanda and Silver Creek, located along the Cattaurgus Creek, near the Cattaraugus-Erie County line were inundated with three and four feet of driven water that swept away cars and mobile homes, damaged home foundations and businesses and caused extensive property and structural damage. Receding waters uncovered scenes of devastation the community was unprepared for. The governor declared Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Erie Counties as state disaster sites.
Because flood waters also damaged and polluted the local reservoir, a boil-water order was issued for the area and the Guard engineers have also been given another mission.
"We have been asked to clear a new road to the reservoir so that pipes can be run to a clean water source," said Brig. Gen. Patrick Murphy, director of the Joint Staff at the New York National Guard state headquarters who also came to Gowanda to see the damage.
"This is a joint response of local, county and state resources," said Murphy who was in Buffalo leading a planned emergency response table top exercise with local civil authorities as part of the Vigilant Guard program when the disaster struck.
"Many of these troops have already served in either Iraq or Afghanistan," said the general. "We are glad to be able to help our communities when they need us," he added.