HARWOOD, N.D., - After going a few days without an emergency call,
the North Dakota National Guard's quick reaction force team in Harwood, N.D.,
responded to a request this afternoon. The Cass County Sheriff's Department
asked for assistance with a vehicle recovery mission.
"This is a perfect example of the partnership we have with the Guard," said
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney. "We respond together. We deal with these
events together. I can't say enough about the Guard. They have a major part
in our partnership here as we prove over and over again - this is how we take
care of our people in North Dakota, and we do it as a team."
A man driving a few miles west of Harwood became partially submerged on a
washed out portion of a gravel road. The driver was able to get out of the
car and made his way through the freezing water to safety before the quick
reaction force arrived.
Once on scene, Sgt. Preston L. Steele, of Fargo, and Spc. Jeremy Kasperson,
of Fargo, attached a chain to the partially submerged car and, with the help
of their team, freed it from the washout. Both Steele and Kasperson serve
with the North Dakota Army National Guard's 815th Engineer Company, which is
based in Wishek, N.D.
They're part of a group of 19 Guardsmen who split duties at the Harwood site,
with half working 24 hours before switching out with the other half of the
group. By day, they respond to calls that come in to the Emergency Operations
Center from local agencies and residents. At night, they patrol the dikes in
Harwood so that residents can rest. Townspeople monitor the dikes themselves
during daylight hours.
A similar situation plays out in Kindred, where another Guard quick reaction
force team is situated. Improving conditions in these areas of Cass County
mean the Guard will likely be able to end these missions by early next week.