Guardsmen build flood protection, provide security

By Staff Sgt. Denis B. Ricou
Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana National Guardsmen continued to assist state and parish officials with building levees and providing traffic security as the Morganza Spillway was opened to relieve pressure from the swollen Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana, May 14.

Louisiana Guardsmen have been preparing an improved levee that will total approximately 10,000 linear feet of sand-filled HESCO baskets and “super bags” in Krotz Springs.

Liaison officer for the project, Sgt. 1st Class Lloydd Martin of the 756th Area Support Medical Company in Carville, says the goal is to build a solid wall to provide a secondary barrier for more than 240 homes, a power substation and refinery.

“When it comes to this response, its a Soldier mission … a Guard mission,” said Martin regarding the support to citizens and local authorities.

The support from the community has been a huge asset in accomplishing the mission, said Martin.

“They have really gone out of their way to be courteous to us, all the while protecting our homes,” said Jannette Ellis, a resident of the community. “I cant say thank you enough to these guys.”

The Guards military police also assisted State Police with traffic control points before and during the opening of the Morganza Spillway to ensure citizens were safe and informed of the event.

Spc. Seth Henderson, a member of the 239th Military Police Company in Carville, said their security mission is to assist not only the local authorities, but the citizens as well, with directions and providing information.

“Being able to help out people I know, people from my community … its why I joined the National Guard,” said Henderson, a native of St. Francisville.

“The Louisiana National Guard has been very instrumental in the past few days preparing this area with levee inspections, barrier construction and traffic control,” said Nancy Allen of the
Corps of Engineers. “We are just grateful for all the help.”

Please visit http://www.dvidshub.net/units/LAANG for the latest Louisiana National Guard releases, photos and videos.

110514-F-VU198-007
MORGANZA, La. – Louisiana National Guardsman Spc. Seth Henderson, 239th Military Company, of St. Francisville, La., stands in front of a traffic sign on Highway 1 keeping vehicles away from the Morganza Spillway as the Corp of Engineers open bays to relieve pressure off the Mississippi River, May 14, 2011. The Louisiana National Guard is assisting the Louisiana State Police in the closures of surrounding roads that cross the spillway. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office/Released)

110514-F-VU198-132
KROTZ SPRINGS, La. – Louisiana National Guardsman Pfc. John Gassaway, Forward Support Company, 769th Engineer Battalion, shovels dirt into super bags as part of a barrier project in Krotz Springs to protect a 240 home subdivision, a power substation and refinery, May 14, 2011. When completed the barrier of HESCO baskets and super bags will be approximately 10,000 feet in length to aid in protection from flooding waters that have been diverted from the Mississippi River. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office/Released)

110514-F-VU198-226
KROTZ SPRINGS, La. – Members of the Louisiana National Guard, 769th Engineer Battalion, pack dirt into HESCO baskets as part of a barrier project in Krotz Springs to protect a 240 home subdivision, a power substation and refinery, May 14, 2011. When completed the barrier of HESCO baskets and super bags will be approximately 10,000 feet in length to aid in protection from flooding waters that have been diverted from the Mississippi River. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office/Released)

110514-F-VU198-267
KROTZ SPRINGS, La. –Louisiana National Guardsmen Pfc. Shelby Horne and Spc. Eric Moos both of the 769th Engineer Battalion, stretch HESCO baskets as part of a barrier project in Krotz Springs to protect a 240 home subdivision, a power substation and refinery, May 14, 2011. When completed the barrier of HESCO baskets and super bags will be approximately 10,000 feet in length to aid in protection from flooding waters that have been diverted from the Mississippi River. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Master Sgt. Toby M. Valadie, Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs Office/Released)