CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Army National Guard flew one of its CH-47 Chinook helicopters into Cedar Rapids on Monday to help the town turn its water back on.
The massive helicopters were used to pluck seven electrical pumps from a well field in Northwest Cedar Rapids still under water. Water receded enough by Saturday for the pumps to be above water.
The 700-pound pumps are used by the Northwest Cedar Rapids Water Treatment Plant to supply the town with nearly 40 percent of its water. Since the pumps stopped working, the plant has used its reserves to supply the town, limiting residents who were able to remain in their homes to one shower every other day.
Iowa is under a Public Health Emergency due to the non-availability of non-potable water. More than 4,000 Iowa Army and Air National Guard members are currently conducting flood response operations in the state.
"We have to use the helicopter since the pumps are still inaccessible by vehicle," said Army Master Sgt. Daniel Edwards, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Joint Emergency Operations Center at the Joint Forces Headquarters at Camp Dodge in Des Moines.
Much of the flood water has receded, but the low-lying area was covered by 32 feet of water at the flood's height and officials are unsure when the pumps will be accessible again by vehicle. "I'm proud to support the Cedar Rapids community and the state of Iowa in any respect," he said.
The helicopters will transport the pumps to an area near the water treatment facility, where technicians will be able to repair them.
Hardest hit by the plant closure has been the city's industry, including a General Mills plant and the nation's largest Quaker Oats plant. Both plants, along with several others have been forced to shut down due to lack of water.
Repairing the seven pumps will allow the treatment facility to regain about 33 percent of its production capability, a major step toward allowing Cedar Rapids industry to go back into production, according to facility workers.
Army Sergeant Brendan Witt, a flight engineer on the Chinook with the 2nd Battalion, 211th Brigade in Davenport, Iowa, grew up in near-by Cedar Falls and said he feels a sense of pride helping those who he grew up with. "I think it's a great deal to come in and help out," he said. "This is a great community and they've provided us great support in return."
In addition to moving these pumps, the Iowa Guard has about 60 soldiers providing emergency water supplies to residents of Cedar Rapids and Columbus Junction.
In Iowa City, Coralville and Johnson County, about 300 Soldiers are transporting pumps and providing sandbagging for the Iowa City water treatment plant and providing drinking water to Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.
In Keokuk, about 50 Soldiers are helping to sandbag the city's water treatment plant, and six Soldiers are assisting in pump operations in Keosaqua.
"The National Guard being here is crucial to getting our plant back up and running," said Ray Hesemann, Cedar Rapids Water Treatment Facility manager. He expects to have the pumps repaired by Thursday. "Without their help, there is absolutely nothing we could do right now."