ARLINGTON, Va., - Severe storms ripped through several southern states over the weekend, leaving behind damaged buildings and flooding conditions throughout the region.
Guardsmen were called on in Arkansas and Tennessee to assist local emergency management organizations in search-and-rescue and evacuation efforts respectively.
In Arkansas, the Guard responded to calls for support teams and equipment to assist with search-and-rescue efforts due to tornado damage to infrastructure such as power and water, said National Guard Bureau officials.
“At roughly 10 p.m. Friday, we received word that we were to deploy two county support teams of about 50 personnel,” said Army Capt. Chris Heathscott, the public affairs officer for the Arkansas Guard. “Our troops were on the ground shortly after 1 a.m. in order to support the communities of East End and Scotland as a result of the storms that went through late Friday night.”
Soldiers from the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team provided support and equipment to the mission in Scotland, and Airmen from the 189th Airlift Wing provided support in East End, said Heathscott.
“As of today, the Airmen are still supporting the East End community with security operations and traffic control,” he said.
In addition to the personnel support, the Guard had two additional missions in Arkansas over the weekend sending a 500-gallon water tanker to Scotland and a 100k generator to Jackson County, said Arkansas Guard officials.
Severe storms dumped heavy rains that caused flash flooding in Tennessee, said National Guard Bureau officials.
Members from the Tennessee Guard provided evacuation support in Williamson and Houston counties, said Guard officials.
“We had the 1176th Transportation Company go out yesterday and escort people that were recovered from areas that had been walled up by water,” said Army Capt. Darrin Haas, the deputy director of public affairs for the Tennessee Guard. “They assisted about 240 individuals and brought them out to staging areas and shelters.”
“They drove house-to-house also with high-water vehicles to knock on doors and ask people if they wanted to be escorted out,” said Haas.
The Guard also transported sandbags in Clarksville, Tenn., but most of their efforts had been focused on getting people to safety, he said.
“Today, we’re beginning missions to do debris removal,” he said. “The governor of Tennessee and the adjutant general will be flying around to access the damage.”
“We’re doing everything the governor asks and we’re [here] to help the first responders from our state and local governments who are doing a fantastic job,” he said.
A state of emergency had been declared midday Saturday with the activation of the state emergency management plan, the Tennessean reported.
Guardmembers were also called out in Massachusetts for a massive rupture of a critical water main that supplies millions of residents in the Boston metro area.
About 450 helped distribute bottled water and do other support functions, Guard officials said.
“The Commonwealth can rely on the Guard’s diverse capabilities, our strategically located units and our quick response during times of need,” said Maj. Gen. Joseph C. Carter, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard.