Door-to-Door and Shore-to-Shore with the Washington National Guard

Story by MSG David W. Largent - Posted Dec, 2007

High volumes of rain in a short period of time brought enough water to close Interstate 5 and many local roads. Photo by PFC Chris A. LaRue, public affairs webmaster.The National Guard conducts phone alerts regularly to make sure they can contact unit members in case of an emergency, but they usually don’t call the day after drill weekend.

But that’s what happened the night of December 3rd.

Many Washington Guardsmen had just finished drill weekend when a storm rolled through western Washington dropping as much as 10 inches of rain in some areas. Massive rain, high winds and warm temperatures that melted snow in the mountains, teamed together to cause flooding and downed trees which knocked out power lines and left several southwestern Washington counties underwater or without electricity or both.High winds overturned trees blocking roadways and taking out power to many residents of several counties. The roads had to be cleared before repairs to the electrical lines could be completed.

In some areas roads were covered with water, in other areas they were covered with downed trees and branches. Power lines were damaged by falling trees while water and sewer systems were damaged by the floodwater. Local emergency responders had to get through the destruction before they could start providing help and repairing the damage.

That’s where the National Guard came in.

Nearly 500 Army and Air National Guardsmen were activated to support county Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) working to restore power and ensure safe travel around flooded roads.

The guard mobilized with about 75 vehicles that could get through many of the flooded areas that regular vehicles could not. They established Traffic Control Points (TCP) to direct traffic away from damaged or impassable roads, delivered emergency supplies including water, food and blankets and delivered generators to enable water districts and emergency shelters to continue to operate.

Guardsmen also checked on residents stranded because road access had been cut off.

“We were transported by boat from Hood Canal Marina. We launched across the canal then made our way to the roads and went door to door,” said Private First Class Johnathan A. Olander, cavalry scout, C Troop 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry. “We had five teams and each team had several miles to cover,” he added.

Toward the end of the week, as the water started to recede, the temperature also started to drop.

Several of the activated Guardsmen are veterans from the Hurricane Katrina cleanup.High water vehicles were necessary to navigate water covered roads in the flood effected areas in southwestern Washington. Maneuvering was difficult for most but many otherwise inaccessible areas were reached with the National Guard’s Light Medium Tactical Vehicles. The Guard Vehicles were used to evacuate residents, deliver emergency supplies and distribute water, firewood and blankets. Photo by LTC William Palmer, commander, 1st Squadron 303rd Cavalry.

“First we gave directions, then MRE’s (Meals Ready to Eat), now water and blankets are the priority,” said Specialist John P. Myracle, Cavalry Scout, A Troop 1st Sqdn 303rd Cav. “They were bringing us coffee and hot chocolate to show their appreciation. People stopped to shake our hands and say they appreciate our service both overseas and here,” he added.

 “The similarities were the communities coming together to help each other,” said Specialist Jesse L. Thomas, cavalry scout, C Troop 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry.

“In Katrina we were there a month after it happened so we were doing cleanup, here we got there right at the beginning so we were part of the initial response,” said Specialist William W. Almond, cavalry scout, C Troop 1st Sqdn 303rd Cav.

 

Specialist Jesse L. Thomas, cavalry scout, C Troop, 1st Sqdn 303 Cav. out of Bremerton, offers a blanket to a cold Central Park resident. Members of his team manned a distribution point passing out bottled water, firewood and blankets December 9, 2007. Photo by Sergeant Emily B. Donigan, 122nd PAOC.Here in Washington many Guardsmen found a similar response.

“When we got there we found out a lot of the people had already taken care of themselves and were helping each other. They checked on each other and told us what roads were passable and which were closed. They were really helpful to us as well as each other,” said Sergeant Edgar A. Gonzalez, medic, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Sqdn 303rd Cav.

Corporal Scott J. Nichols, Cavalry Scout, C Troop 1st Sqdn 303rd Cav. said, “Some of the community members had equipment and had already started clearing roads so they could have access to help their neighbors and get to other key areas.”

As power was restored to most of the effected areas and many of the water systems and sewer systems were coming back on line the National Guard started preparing themselves to return their home stations.

“It’s as hectic as ever, not that we’re assisting with as many individuals, it’s just as we are getting closer to winding down, we have a lot of missions to finish and all those ‘We need to finish before the Guard leaves’ things to take care of before we go,” said Specialist John C. McGinnis, Cavalry Scout, A Troop 1st Sqdn 303rd Cav.

“Let me just say Thank You to our emergency responders … The National Guard, I think you’ll all agree, have been great,” said Governor Christine O. Gregoire at a Red Cross Shelter set up on the Elma fairgrounds.