CAVALIER, N.D. - Within 12 hours of getting a call from their North Dakota National Guard units, Guard members from communities across eastern North Dakota were on duty in Cavalier, N.D., beginning Wednesday.
The Soldiers — more than 40 today although about 70 were on duty Wednesday — are working rotating 12-hour shifts to support the community, which was evacuated Tuesday evening after significant rainfall threatened the stability of the Renwick Dam on the Tongue River.
"Unfortunately, due to all of the events in recent years — from statewide flooding to another threatened dam near Kathryn, N.D., in 2009 — we've become well experienced in working with others across our state to provide flood-related support," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, who toured the area with Gov. Jack Dalrymple and met with city and county leaders in Cavalier, Crystal and Grafton. "Our Guardsmen again responded quickly, and we will continue to support northeastern North Dakota as long as we're requested to do so."
Senior Airman Gabriel Irvis called the flood-related mission "familiar territory," although this time he's working in his other uniform — that of Trooper Irvis, a member of the Highway Patrol's Northeast Region in Langdon, N.D.
At five entrance points to the city, the Highway Patrol joined with the North Dakota Guardsmen and members of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection to provide security, information and some traffic control for the city of about 1,300 that resembled a ghost town Wednesday.
On the western edge of the city, Spc. Brandon M. Nelson and Spc. Fredrick Burdick — who both live in Devils Lake and serve with the 3662nd Maintenance Company at Camp Grafton Training Center — watched for vehicles and visited with their counterparts from the Highway Patrol and Border Patrol. They expressed empathy for the homeowners who needed to leave quickly while facing the uncertainty of the dam and spillway withstanding the pressure of the water.
"I feel bad telling them no, they can't come back in," Burdick said.
On the north end of town, the sentiment was the same with Spc. Dominic Sevigny, of Grand Forks, N.D., Spc. Moses Zozimo, of Fargo, N.D., and Spc. Alex Nagel, of Grand Forks. Sevigny serves with the Fargo-based 191st Military Police Company, Zozimo is with the Fargo-based Company A, 231st Brigade Support Battalion, and Nagel serves with the rear detachment for the Grand Forks-based 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, all North Dakota Army National Guard units.
Zozimo, an immigrant from Sudan, said flood-related missions are new for him, but he's proud to be helping his new home.
"It is kind of a good feeling helping out," he said. "By me doing even a little, it's helping them a lot."
In the meantime, Capt. Ryan Boom, a North Dakota National Guard liaison officer who serves with the 191st Military Police Company, was coordinating updates and information with other leaders in a meeting at the Cavalier Law Enforcement Center.
"Cavalier had luck on its side as it had equipment staged near the location of the temporary dike that was there for a different project," he said. "It's been an absolute pleasure to work with the city of Cavalier. The response from the community together as a team showed what a success it is. It's a privilege to be a part of this amazing team response."
Beyond the law enforcement support, the North Dakota National Guard provided three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters that were on standby for potential search-and-rescue missions and sandbag positioning.