ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members in several states assisted civil authorities today after a tornado touched down in Arkansas, wildfires spread in Arizona, Oklahoma and Texas and flood response efforts continued in the North Dakota, Minnesota and Florida.
In Arkansas, Army Guard members were called out by Gov. Mike Beebe overnight to provide law enforcement support to the town of Mena after a tornado ripped through the area, destroying homes and businesses.
The Soldiers assisted local law enforcement in securing the area with traffic control points and conducting search and rescue missions, said Army Capt. Chris Heathscott, the state public affairs officer.
"After having been on the scene of numerous tornadoes as a Guardsman, still to this day you can't hardly put it into words," said Heathscott, who was working in Mena today. "You're walking down the street and some folks are laughing, because that's about all they can do.
You walk down to the next block and there's some sitting on their front porch crying, because they just lost a loved one."
"Not only have these people lost homes, but some have lost family members," he said adding that there have been three fatalities.
He said the Arkansas Guard supported 81 state active missions in 2008, many for natural disasters like this. During this fiscal year, they have already supported over 90.
The governor and adjutant general were expected to do an aerial assessment on a National Guard Black Hawk helicopter this afternoon.
Oklahoma
After wildfires swept through Oklahoma, civil engineers from the 137th Air Refueling Wing at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base of Oklahoma City responded to a request from local emergency officials to assist in extinguishing fires southeast of the city.
At least seven Airmen are operating two tanker trucks, two pick-up trucks and one ambulance, Guard officials reported. Strong winds, coupled with pre-existing drought conditions, are causing the fires to increase in size and scope.
Thirteen people were reported injured, including one firefighter, officials reported. The cities of Wellston, Velma, Healdton, Sparks, and Midwest City are under mandatory evacuation orders today.
Texas
Two Texas National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters are conducting aerial wildfire suppression in the state, according National Guard Bureau reports. Fires were burning in several counties, with the largest being a 15,000-acre scorcher in Magic City, located about a 100 miles east of Amarillo.
Arizona
Also today, the Arizona State Land Department Fire Management Division requested that an Arizona Guard armory in Yuma be activated to possibly take in evacuees from a 150-acre wildfire burning in Salt Cedars in the Dome Valley.
North Dakota/Minnesota
More than 1,000 North Dakota and Minnesota National Guard members remain on state active duty in North Dakota today supporting flood mitigation efforts.
Guardmembers are conducting gravel load and hauling missions for road repairs in Grant County, and are pumping out water in Lisbon, Fort Ransom and Cass County, officials reported.
Guardmembers are also removing dead livestock near Bismarck, and continue to work in dike patrols, at traffic control points and in route observation security missions.
The National Weather Service is forecasting temperatures there to reach 50 degrees today, which will continue to melt ice and snow. There is a good probability the Fargo area will experience a second flood crest reaching or exceeding 41 feet beginning April 15, officials said.
Florida
After major flooding in the Tallahassee area and on the Suwannee, Withlacoochee and Santa Fe rivers, four Florida Air National Guard members responded to a request from the State Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Tallahassee for flood support.
The Airmen from the 125th Fighter Wing are on state active duty there and are working in the EOC planning and coordinating missions in response to current flooding and preparing for potential fire missions and operations.
In spite of recent wet weather in the panhandle, most of the state remains under a red flag warning for fires, officials reported.