Six state active duty missions tasked to Guard in wake of tornados
CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark - After being handed four state active duty missions to support northwest Arkansas communities devastated by the Tuesday night tornados, the Guard has now answered two additional calls for support.
Shortly after Gov. Mike Beebe approved the city of Mountain View's request for generator support around 8 p.m. last night, the state's sixth mission was approved to support the same city with fresh water.
The Guard's 224th maintenance Company from Mountain Home was tasked to provide two personnel, one vehicle and a 30-kilowatt generator to provide power to the Mountain View courthouse. The mission length is currently undetermined.
The 224th also supported the city's second call with the task to provide one of the three 500-gallon water tankers. Supply of the other two tankers was tasked to Camp Robinson's Institute Support Unit. The ISU was also tasked to support the mission with two vehicles and four personnel.
Mission Rollup:
Mission #1
Approved: 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 5
Location: Gassville
Mission: Generator Power Support
Supporting Unit: 224th Maintenance Co., 87th Troop Command from Mountain Home
Number of Personnel: 10
Equipment: 2 vehicles, 1 30-K generator
Mission Status: Mission ended at 10:17 p.m. on 5 Feb.
Mission #2
Approved: 6 a.m. on Feb. 5
Location: Atkins
Mission: Search and Rescue
Supporting Unit: 2nd Battalion, 142nd Fires Brigade from Fort Smith
Number of Personnel: 28
Equipment: 9 vehicles
Mission Status: Ongoing.
Mission #3
Location: NW Arkansas
Mission: Aviation support for damage assessment
Supporting Unit: 77th Aviation Brigade from Camp Robinson
Number of Personnel: 4
Equipment: 2 Blackhawk helicopters
Mission Status: Complete.
Mission #4
Approved: 3:18 p.m. on Feb. 6
Location: Clinton
Mission: Fresh Water Support
Supporting Unit: Institute Support Unit from Camp Robinson
Number of Personnel: 2
Equipment: 1 5,000-gallon tanker
Mission Status: Ongoing.
Mission #5
Approved: 7:58 p.m. on Feb. 6
Location: Mountain View
Mission: Generator Power Support to Courthouse
Supporting Unit: 224th Maintenance Co., 87th Troop Command from Mountain Home
Number of Personnel: 2
Equipment: 1 vehicle and 1 30-K generator
Mission Status: Ongoing.
Mission #6
Approved: 8:15 p.m. on Feb. 6
Location: Mountain View
Mission: Fresh Water Support
Supporting Unit #1: Institute Support Unit from Camp Robinson
Supporting Unit #2: 224th Maintenance Co., 87th Troop Command from Mountain Home
Number of Personnel: 4 from unit #1 (plus 2 from unit 2 who will return upon delivery)
Equipment: 3 500-gallon water buffalos, 2 vehicles (1 of the buffalos provided by unit 2)
Mission Status: Ongoing