CHEYENNE, Wyo., - In the largest state activation of the Wyoming National Guard in more than 10 years, more than 200 soldiers and airmen are working around the clock to protect residents and their property against floods in Fremont County.
The Wyoming National Guard has been filling and placing sandbags in the county since June 7. Fremont County requested the Guard's assistance through the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security.
Gov. Dave Freudenthal has signed three authorizations to increase the number of soldiers and airmen since June 7. The original authorization was for 40 National Guard troops. The most recent authorization, signed today, brings the total to 223 Army and Air Guard personnel in Fremont County by this evening.
"The Wyoming National Guard is proud of its dual state and federal mission and our soldiers and airmen are ready and able to assist Wyoming residents when the call comes," said Army Maj. Gen. Ed Wright, Wyoming's adjutant general.
"The call came Monday," Wright said, "and we are diligently working to ensure Fremont County residents remain safe. We also are monitoring other areas of the state and are prepared to assist other Wyoming residents, if needed."
Having the state's National Guardsmen on the job "allows us to let our volunteers go back to focusing on protecting their own homes and families, instead of worrying about the bigger picture," said Craig Haslam, incident commander for the Fremont County Flood 2010. "We have been nothing short of impressed with their work ethic, attitude, and respect for the situation and for the other volunteers."
Also this week, the Hawaii National Guard responded to a fire support request for a brushfire that burned several acres in Ma’alaea, Maui.
At the height of operations, Hawaii Guard called up nine Army Guard personnel in state active duty status to respond to the wildfires. Two Army Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with fire buckets were also used to extinguish the fires.
All personnel and equipment have returned to home station, and no further National Guard assistance is anticipated at this time, Guard officials said.