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Kentucky National Guard Blackhawk helicopters fly Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, the state adjutant general, and emergency management officials to survey flood damage sites in Smithland, Ky., April 28. (photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office)
For more flood relief photos and videos visit our Flickr site.
Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, Director of Public Affairs, is the point of contact for this message. He can be reached at 502-385-8008.
FRANKFORT, Ky (April 29, 2011) – The Kentucky National Guard currently has approximately 128 Guardsmen equipped with tactical vehicles providing civic support to Western Kentucky in response to the flooding along the Ohio River. These Soldiers continue to conduct water barrier and sandbagging operations in Ballard and Livingston Counties as well as law enforcement support in Henderson, Fulton and McCracken Counties.
Kentucky Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini supervises Pfc. Justin Ballard and Sgt. Aron Nesler while stacking sandbags for flood relief mission in Smithland, Ky., April 28. (photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Current Operations are as follows:
Ongoing Missions – All ground missions are being manned by elements of the 75th Troop Command. The 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade is providing aviation support. Ground Soldiers are deployed to Ballard, Livingston, Fulton, Henderson and McCracken Counties as follows:
a. Ballard County – Twenty-four Soldiers from 2113th Transportation Company continue performing sand bagging operations to protect home sites, conducting around the clock operations in three 8-hour shifts.
b. Henderson County – Fifteen Soldiers from 75th Troop Command are in Henderson, Kentucky to conduct presence patrols in support of local law enforcement. They will conduct operations 1800-0600 daily in support of the Henderson County Sheriff. These unarmed presence patrols are equipped with Sheriff Dept radios. Their mission is to deter looting by their presence and to report any activity to Henderson County Law Enforcement agencies, who will then respond.
c. Fulton County – Twelve Soldiers are conducting roving patrols with humvees in support of local law enforcement to assist in controlling access to flooded roadways leading to the levee system.
Kentucky Guardsman Sgt. Aron Nesler, 2113th Transportation Company, briefs Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, state adjutant general, on sandbag operations in Smithland, Ky., April 28. (photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office)
d. McCracken County – Eight Soldiers are conducting roving patrols with humvees in support of the McCracken County Sheriff to deter looting and to report suspicious activity to local law enforcement agencies.
e. Fourteen Soldiers 103rd Chemical Battalion have deployed to Owensboro with cargo trucks in order to provide logistics support and transportation support.
f. Livingston County – MISSION COMPLETE. The twenty-four Soldiers from 2113th TC have completed their mission of assisting in the construction of water barriers to protect the city of Smithland. They conducted around the clock operations in three 8-hour shifts.
g. Daviess County- MISSION COMPLETE. The thirty Soldiers from the 206th Engineer Battalion and a sandbagging machine from the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center completed sand bagging operations to protect a KEWS facility.
Next 24 hours:
1. Operations in Ballard, Henderson, Fulton and McCracken Counties are expected to continue at or near current levels for the next several days.
2. US Army Corps of Engineers has requested aviation support to engineers assessing the status of USACE dams on 29 Apr 11. 63d Theatre Aviation Brigade has been tasked this mission.
3. The Commonwealth Emergency Operation Center is staffed at Level 3 0600-2400. The KYNG Joint Operations Center is staffed at Level 2, with augmented staffing and extended hours based on mission requirements. The EOC provides overnight phone coverage and response.
A Kentucky National Guard humvee from the 206th Engineer Battalion negotiates a water hazard while on flood relief duty in Henderson, Ky. (Photo by Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard)
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Story by Spc. James Wilton
(republished from DVIDS - Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System)
Photo by Spc. James Wilton. The Kentucky Agribusiness Development Team III, Task Force Hurricane, stand in formation during a transfer of authority ceremony at Bagram Airfield, April 18. The KY ADT III replaced the KY ADT II in the Parwan, Panjshir and Kapisa area of operations.
PARWAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan – The Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team II, Task Force Ironhorse, welcomed their replacements, the KY ADT III, Task Force Hurricane, during a transfer of authority ceremony at Bagram Air Field, April 18.
The ADT program began in 2008 and brings 10 to 12 agriculture and agribusiness experts to Afghanistan to teach and mentor local farmers. Supported by a headquarters and security element, the team uses their civilian skills to develop and improve the quality of life for the Afghan people across Regional Command-East, which has eight ADTs, and Regional Command-South, which has one team.
“This has been a long and productive deployment, but ADTs do not work in a vacuum,” said U.S. Army Col. Hunter J. Mathews, the KY ADT II commander from Lexington, Ky. “Everything we have been able to accomplish is due to the cooperation and assistance of our partners and friends.”
The ADT conducted more than 450 missions on 32 major development projects and 100 quick impact projects in Parwan, Panjshir and Kapisa Provinces. These projects restored irrigation canals, improved agricultural education and introduced beekeeping and poultry business skills to improvised women, along with many other projects. The team also worked to strengthen the competency, professionalism and effectiveness of the Afghan government’s agriculture officials, which they consider to be there greatest accomplishment.
“The most important thing we did was sitting down with the Director of Irrigation Agriculture and Livestock and working with him to use his staff more effectively, teaching him to get his district-level people out of the office and into the village, helping the local farmers,” said Mathews.
It is this focus and expertise, he said, that makes the ADTs so effective-allowing them to have a large impact on the lives and future of the Afghan people. That level of determination is also evident in the KY ADT III’s hope for their rotation through Afghanistan.
“We are going to continue along the same lines of operations that the ADT II has already set in stone, so that we can finish up some of the projects they have already started,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Neil T. Mullaney, the KY ADT III commander from Louisville, Ky. “But we want to further develop the youth education. After going to visit the Kapisa Agriculture Institute (KAI) we see a great opportunity there. By focusing more on the younger generations of Afghanistan we think that that will be more fruitful for the long term.”
Education is a very important part of ADT III’s plan for their deployment which includes projects in both KAI and the Alberoni University also in Kapisa, said Mullaney.
Continuity is also on the side of the ADT, the fact that the Afghan people see the same patch and hear the same accent when they deal with the Kentucky unit lets them know that they are dealing with the same family. Along with that many of the members from the both units have known each other for many years and have a strong working relationship, which transfers over to a consistent dissemination of information before and after the transfer.
“Additionally two people on his team, left just a year ago with KY ADT I, so he has two guys on his team that know where they’re going, know the DAIL and know our provinces,” said Mathews, when speaking about the continuity between the groups “I also have one guy from my team, the operations non-commissioned officer that is staying with him. He already knows the procedures and knows who to work with, so that also helps a lot.”
This consistency and focus on education means that the new ADT will build on the successes of the pervious unit, break new ground and create their own milestones as well as pave the way for their brothers in arms, KY ADT IV when they make their way here, in another year.
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Kentucky Guardsmen Pfc. David Barrow, Spc. Tommy Wyatt and Pvt. Cedric Bransford, 2113th Transportation Company, assist local residents in flood relief mission in Oscar, Ky., April 27. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
For more flood relief photos and videos visit our Flickr site.
Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, Director of Public Affairs, is the point of contact for this message. He can be reached at 502-385-8008.
FRANKFORT, Ky (April 28, 2011) – The Kentucky National Guard currently has approximately 125 Guardsmen and 24 tactical vehicles providing civic support to Western Kentucky in response to the flooding along the Ohio River. These Soldiers are conducting water barrier and sandbagging operations in Ballard, Ohio, Livingston and Daviess Counties as well as law enforcement support in Henderson and Fulton Counties.
Current Operations are as follows:
Kentucky Guardsman Spc. Tia Brooks, 2113th Transportation Company, tosses sandbags sandbags from flat bed semi truck for flood relief mission in Oscar, Ky., April 27. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
1. Ongoing Missions-All ground missions are being manned by elements of the 75th Troop Command. They currently have Soldiers deployed in Ballard, Livingston and Daviess Counties as follows:
a. Ballard County-Twenty-four Soldiers and four humvees from 2113th Transportation Company continue performing sand bagging operations to protect home sites, conducting around the clock operations in three 8-hour shifts.
b. Livingston County-Twenty-four Soldiers and four humvees from 2113th TC continue assisting in the construction of water barriers to protect the city of Smithland, conducting around the clock operations in three 8-hour shifts.
c. Daviess County- Thirty Soldiers and five humvees from the 206th Engineer Battalion and a sandbagging machine from the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center conducted sand bagging operations to protect a KEWS facility. This mission has been completed.
2. New Missions:
a. Ohio County: Twenty-four Soldiers and four humvees from 75th Troop Command are in Hartford, Kentucky, to conduct sand bagging operations to protect a Kentucky Utility Substation. They will conduct around the clock operations in three 8-hour shifts.
Kentucky Guardsmen Sgt. James Scott, 2113th Transportation Company, dump sand in Hesco barriers at the bank of the Ohio River in Smithland, Ky., April 27. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
b. Henderson County: Fifteen Soldiers and six humvees from 75th Troop Command are in Henderson, Kentucky to conduct presence patrols in support of local law enforcement. They will conduct operations 1800-0600 daily in support of the Henderson County Sheriff. These unarmed presence patrols are equipped with Sheriff Dept radios. Their mission is to deter looting by their presence and to report any activity to Henderson County Law Enforcement agencies, who will then respond.
Next 24 hours:
a. Operations in Ballard, Henderson, and Livingston Counties are expected to continue at current levels for at least the next 72 hours. The sand-bagging mission in Ohio County should be complete within 48 hours.
b. The Kentucky Guard has been tasked to support to local law enforcement in Fulton County to assist in controlling access to flooded roadways leading to the levee system.
c. The Commonwealth Emergency Operation Center is staffed at Level 3 0600-2400. The KYNG Joint Operations Center (JOC) is staffed at Level 2, with augmented staffing and extended hours based on mission requirements.
The EOC provides overnight phone coverage and response.
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Kentucky Guardsmen of the 2113th Transportation Company provide flood relief support to residents of Oscar, Ky., April 27. Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
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Story by Maj. Dale Greer, Chief of Public Affairs, 123d Airlift Wing
The U.S. Air Force Distinguished Rifleman Badge has been awarded to fewer than 350 shooters in Air Force History. The individually numbered badges are made of 10-karat solid gold. (Courtesy photo)
Louisville, Ky. (April 28, 2011) – A member of the Kentucky Air National Guard has earned one of the military’s highest honors for marksmanship, the U.S. Air Force Distinguished Rifleman Badge.
Senior Master Sgt. John Siebert, captain of the Kentucky Air Guard Rifle Team, won the honor for consistently scoring in the top 10 percent of all marksmen participating in multiple Excellence In Competition combat matches at the local, regional and national level, and for logging a cumulative 30 points in a career of shooting.
“This is a major achievement for any marksman,” said Master Sgt. Darryl Loafman, captain of the Kentucky Air Guard Pistol Team and a shooting colleague of Siebert’s. “The Distinguished Rifleman Badge is the kind of honor that truly must be earned through years of discipline and dedication.”
Senior Master Sgt. John Siebert, captain of the Kentucky Air National Guard Rifle Team, has been awarded the U.S. Air Force Distinguished Rifleman Badge, one of the top marksmanship honors in the U.S. military. Sergeant Siebert was presented with his badge during the recent Winston P. Wilson National Guard Combat Matches at Camp J.T. Robinson, Ark. (Courtesy photo)
Siebert, who received his individually numbered badge during the Winston P. Wilson National Guard Combat Matches at Camp J.T. Robinson, Ark., now joins an elite fraternity of just 324 other Distinguished Riflemen in Air Force history. The distinctive badge is made of 10-karat solid gold and is more strictly regulated than the Medal of Honor, according to military regulations.
“It’s a real honor to be recognized among such a talented group of competitors,” Siebert said. “These are some of the top marksmen in the entire United States military.”
The Kentucky Air Guard Marksmanship Team, which includes both the Rifle and Pistol Teams, has a long tradition of excellence, having earned more than two-dozen local, regional and national awards in the past decade, Loafman said.
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Photos by Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
Members of the 206th Engineer Battalion and 130th Engineer Support Company use heavy equipment to fill and load sandbags for transportation for use around the Henderson, Ky. area April 27 where recent rain storms have caused massive flooding. The Soldiers will use the sandbags to prevent damage to radio structures used by the Kentucky State Police for retransmission. Photo by Army Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
HENDERSON, Ky. (April 27, 2011) – The Kentucky National Guard currently has 125 Guardsmen supported by 24 tactical vehicles providing support to civil authorities in response to flooding along the Ohio River. Troops are conducting water barrier and sandbagging operations in Ballard, Ohio, and Livingston Counties and completed a sandbagging mission in Daviess County today.
Army Spc. Robert R. Mason Jr. a 40 year-old equipment operator and radio technician assigned to the 130th Heavy Combat Support Company surveys a broadcast radio tower in Henderson, Ky. April 27 used by public television KET and the Kentucky State Police as a retransmission point to ensure the rising waters have had no effect on the radio tower’s capabilities and internal hardware. Photo by Army Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
Soldiers are also providing support to local law enforcement in Henderson County and are expected to stand up a law enforcement support mission in Fulton County tomorrow.
More updates will be posted as the situation changes.
Army Sgt. Ernest D. Modlin a 37 year-old heavy equipment operator with the 130th Engineer Support Company from Madisonville, Ky. directs and coordinates the loading of sandbag packing machinery onto a flatbed trailer on April 27 to be transported for use in preventing further water damage from recent flash floods. Photo by Army Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
Soldiers from the 130th Engineer Support Company and 206th Engineer Battalion in Owensboro, Ky. move sandbag packing equipment on to a lift to be transported for use around the area where recent rain storms have caused massive flooding. The Soldiers will use the sandbags to prevent damage to radio structures used by the Kentucky State Police. Photo by Army Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Air conditioners vital to the cooling system of a broadcast radio tower in Henderson, Ky. April 27 used by public television KET and the Kentucky State Police are carefully monitored by members of the 206th Engineer Battalion stationed in Owensboro, Ky. The engineers placed sand bags all around the station in an attempt to keep rising flood waters from shorting out the ventilation units and thus causing a shutdown of the radio tower. Photo by Army Spc. David Bolton, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Kentucky National Guard
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Photos by Staff Sgt. Aaron Hiler, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear briefs the State of the Commonwealth at the Boone National Guard Center, Wednesday 27 April 2011 (Photos by Staff Sgt. Aaron Hiler, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment).
FRANKFORT, Ky. (April 27, 2011) – After a full day of heavy storms and rising floodwaters, Governor Steve Beshear and Kentucky’s Emergency Management team remind Kentucky citizens to remain vigilant as the last storms sweep across the state.
Weather officials are investigating reports of possible tornadoes and wind damage in several areas across the state. Further storms are possible tonight, especially in the south and east portions of the state. No injuries or fatalities have been reported.
“Our citizens have endured days of consecutive severe storms and flooding, and we remain in contact with local emergency officials as well as FEMA to make sure our communities get the help they need,” said Gov. Beshear. “We stand ready to assist any community in need, and we urge Kentuckians to remain on alert until this storm system finally passes.”
Gov. Beshear today instructed local officials to begin assessing damages from this storm as quickly as possible. Damage assessments will help the state deliver needed services and will help determine if the state may qualify for a federal disaster declaration.
Possible tornado touchdowns have been reported in Cumberland, Hopkins, Grayson, and Hardin Counties, and damages to homes and businesses have been reported in Clarkson in Grayson County and Glendale in Hardin County.
Since the beginning of this storm system late last week, parts of western and west-central Kentucky have received as much as 10 to 14 inches of rain. The Ohio andMississippi rivers continue to rise and may reach historic flood levels, especially near the Kentucky/Tennessee line.
Further rounds of severe weather are expected through this evening, with significant flash flooding, damaging winds and tornadoes possible, primarily over eastern and southern parts of the state.
On Monday, Gov. Beshear declared a state of emergency to allow local officials immediate access to state resources to assist in public safety and recovery efforts. Since the storms moved in late last week, 38 counties and 17 cities have declared local disasters. Citizens are encouraged to report damages immediately to the local emergency management office and the National Weather Service at 1-877-633-6772.
The Kentucky National Guard has deployed 125 Guardsmen to assist in water barrier and sandbagging efforts in Ohio, Livingston, Ballard, Fulton and Hendersoncounties. More Guardsmen may be deployed as needed. The state’s Emergency Operations Center is activated at Level 3, which means all state Cabinet liaisons are present to assist the Emergency Management team in resource requests and incident management.
State officials also remain in close contact with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as they monitor the levels of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. Both rivers are still rising and could pose significant flooding risk.
The Kentucky Department for Public Health (DPH) and local health departments across the state are prepared to provide support to response efforts as needed. DPH also reminds Kentuckians that contact with flood waters should be avoided whenever possible as they may contain contaminants that could pose health hazards. Homeowners whose homes sustained water damage are also urged to follow safety recommendations to limit mold damage and ensure proper food handling and storage. More detailed health and safety guidelines can be found at the Health Alerts website: http://healthalerts.ky.gov/.
The Transportation Cabinet is providing equipment like pumps, dump trucks and sandbagging machines to counties who have requested them. Crews are also patrolling flood-prone areas and they are ready to respond to additional flooding. They also respond to calls about flooded roads that come from law enforcement or the public at large.
For road closures and conditions, please visit www.511.ky.gov , or call 511.
Emergency officials encourage individuals to use NOAA Weather Alert Radios and stay tuned to local media for weather updates and flood information.
Should you encounter a downed power line, do not approach it, call your utility provider. Should you encounter water over a flooded roadway, “Stop – Turn Around – Don’t Drown!” It only takes six inches of moving water to sweep a person off their feet and two feet of rushing water to sweep away a full-size SUV.
Weather safety tips and weather alerts by county can be found on the KYEM website at www.kyem.ky.gov.
Counties and Cities with Declared States of Emergency
Declared Counties: Ballard, Bath, Calloway, Carlisle, Carroll, Carter, Crittenden, Daviess, Elliott, Fleming, Franklin, Fulton, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Henderson, Hickman, Kenton, Lawrence, Lewis, Livingston, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McCracken, McLean, Menifee, Morgan, Muhlenberg, Nicholas, Ohio, Oldham, Spencer, Trigg, Union, Washington and Webster.
Declared Cities: Bardwell, Benton, Brandenburg, Cadiz, Calvert City, Carlisle, Carrollton, Frenchburg, Greensburg, Hardin, Hartford, Hawesville, Lewisport, Maysville, West Liberty, West Point, and Wickliffe.
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Smithland, Ky. (April 27, 2011) — Kentucky Guardsman 1st. Lt. Kurt Fryberger, 2113th Transportation Company executive officer, describes the unit flood relief mission at Smithland, Ky. Also see footage of Guard members working with local citizens.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mueyqeg7PxM]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9Iv9TkY4s]
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Photos by Staff Sgt. Michael J. Oliver, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs Office, [email protected]
SMITHLAND, KY-Kentucky Guardsmen of the 2113th Transportation Company fill sandbags at the banks of the Ohio River in Smithland, Ky., April 27.
For more photos of the Kentucky National Guard conducting flood relief, please click here.
2113th Transportation Company flood relief mission in Western Kentucky
2113th Transportation Company flood relief mission in Western Kentucky
2113th Transportation Company flood relief mission in Western Kentucky
Pictures of flood relief will continue to be posted on this news site and on our Facebook page.
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Story and photos by Sgt. Dale Elliott, 75th Troop Command Unit Public Affairs/Historian Representative
Chief Warrant Officers David Barker and Harold Brandenburg maintain the communications network during the 2011 Thunder Over Louisville.
Louisville, Ky. (April 27, 2011) – Behind the scenes at one of the biggest aviation shows in the nation, a small and unassuming team of Kentucky National Guard Soldiers quietly make sure everything goes smoothly.
In addition to C-130 Hercules crews wowing the crowds and Soldiers running traffic control points, Chief Warrant Officers David Barker and Harold Brandenburg are in the Kentucky National Guard command vehicle, monitoring communications and keeping everyone talking “loud and clear.”
“Our mission is to provide communications support to the command staff for operational control and situation awareness during Thunder,” said Barker. “The Kentucky National Guard provides security and traffic control for support to our civilian partners. This support is critical to the success of the event and safety of the civilians that attend this event.”
“The command vehicle provides all the IT requirements as you would have operating from your office desk,” said Brandenburg. “All of this is provided through a broadband satellite network. We also have radio communications internal with the National Guard elements and external (interoperability) with our civilian partners.”
The Kentucky National Guard command vehicle is just one of the tools used in supporting civic events like Thunder Over Louisville.
But it’s not just the tools that get the job done. It takes highly trained and motivated Soldiers like Brandenburg to make things happen. A former member of the US Air Force as well as the Kentucky Air Guard, he’s got 27 years in uniform and a lifetime of technological experience. He now wears the Army uniform as he monitors the communications networks in the command vehicle.
“You have to be dedicated to the mission,” said Brandenburg. “Whether it’s Thunder or an ice storm or a flood, we have to be ready to respond at a moment’s notice. It’s a tough job, but it’s worthwhile. I really do love it!”
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Contact: Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht, Director of Public Affairs, 502-352-8008
Frankfort, Ky. (April 26, 2011) - The Kentucky National Guard is currently deploying troops in support of flood relief efforts in Western Kentucky.
“At the request of Governor Steve Beshear, I’ve directed the mobilization of more than 80 Soldiers in support of the current flood situation,” said Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, adjutant general for Kentucky. “We are fully prepared to change these numbers as the mission requires.”
“The National Guard is Kentucky’s hometown defense force and as such we have a personal stake in this fight,” said Tonini. “We have the experience and expertise to see this crisis through.”
Fifty-one members of the 2113th Transportation Company out of Paducah are servicing Western Kentucky as follows:
- Team one: 27 members of the 2113th are erecting water barriers outside of Smithland, in Livingston County.
- Team two: 24 members of the 2113th are sandbagging areas throughout Ballard County.
Flooding in these areas is due to the cresting Ohio River. Both teams are working in full coordination and cooperation with local county judge executives and emergency management officials in the respective counties.
In addition, approximately 31 members of the 206th Engineers out of Owensboro are erecting water barriers and placing sandbags around the Kentucky Education Television building on the Henderson and Daviess County border. A sandbagging machine from the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center has been provided to the 206th to use for this mission.
Water in this area is due to the oversaturation of the ground and the flat terrain of this area.
Updates of the Kentucky National Guard supporting Kentucky’s flood relief will be posted on this news site as well as the Kentucky National Guard’s Facebook page and Twitter feeds.
