ARLINGTON, Va., - National Guardsmen in five states are providing drinking water to communities with broken or damaged water systems caused by recent freezing temperatures.
Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi have deployed the personnel and equipment needed to produce water until local communities are able to make the necessary repairs to restore sufficient water supply to their citizens.
In Louisiana, four Soldiers have provided the LaSalle, Tensas and Madison Parishes with one 5,000-gallon water tanker each to support the damaged water systems.
The Guard's water tankers will likely remain in place for the next 24 to 72 hours until repairs are made to these water systems, Guard officials said.
Since May, the Louisiana Guard has delivered water to distribution points throughout Ferriday, La., to ensure that residents have an adequate supply of drinking water due to problems with water wells in Concordia Parish.
In Alabama, four Soldiers and two 6,000 gallon water trailers are expected to be on state active duty for about seven days in response to water shortages in Clarke County, Alabama caused by freezing temperatures.
In Kentucky, 18 Soldiers and two Tactical Water Purification Systems from the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion have provided water into the Buckhorn Water System since Jan. 6.
The state also reported that the Hazard Municipal Water System, which serves Perry County, Kentucky, was forced to shut off service to repair a large leak in their system.
Service is gradually being restored but, frigid weather, ice, and air in the pipes have complicated efforts to restore service, Guard officials said.
The Arkansas Guard has deployed six Soldiers provide water to the cities of Casa, Adona, Marshall and Leslie with three 400-gallon water buffaloes and one 5,000-gallon water tanker.
The main water lines in these cities have been damaged by the recent frigid temperatures.
Finally, the Gov. Haley Barbour of Mississippi has declared a state of emergency and requested the Mississippi Guard to deploy 31 Guardsmen with six 5,000-gallon water tankers and 16 400-gallon water buffaloes to the city of Jackson.
The city has more than 100 water main breaks, which developed after a week of record low temperatures.
(Sgt. Michael Owens of the Louisiana National Guard contributed to this report.)