By Army Col. Richard Goldenberg
New York National Guard
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2014 – The New York National Guard had
780 personnel on duty today in western New York as part of Operation Lake
Effect, the relief mission for areas blanketed last week by up to 7 feet of
snow.
Six hundred troops were assigned directly to the task force
working in the Buffalo area.
As snow clearing continues, soldiers and airmen are working
to minimize effects of anticipated flooding.
“Our guys are motivated,” Army Capt. Jared Kausner told TV
station WIVB. “Their motivation alone is keeping us going, and progress has
been going good so far.”
About 50 soldiers sandbagged houses last night in a West
Seneca housing development known to be in a flood-prone zone. Stockpiling of
sandbags continues today.
Since the mission began, soldiers and airmen have conducted
8,405 manhours of snow removal, manned 54 traffic control points, conducted 55
transportation missions for medical personnel and patients, placed 2,500
sandbags, delivered 200 meals and cleared 700 fire hydrants, along with
continuing snow-removal missions, Guard officials said.
UH-72 and UH-60 helicopters are standing by for missions at
the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester, as along with 20 high-axle
trucks on standby with crews to respond to flood-related incidents. Four
Humvees have been assigned to a response force in case water rescues are
needed. Meanwhile, satellite communications equipment was being moved into the
area to support state agencies responding to the snowstorm.
Dozens of Vehicles Involved in Effort
Forty-four dump trucks, 13 front-end loaders, 77 Humvees, 13
tractor-trailers, 20 Bobcat/skid steer-type vehicles and two bulldozers are
assigned to the mission, mainly working snow removal.
Two large runway snow blowers had been working around the
clock, and the Department of Transportation appears to have no more missions
for those specialized pieces of equipment, so they will be sent back to Hancock
Field Air National Guard Base today unless another mission comes up. These
vehicles are less effective with wet snow, officials explained.
“Our soldiers and airmen will continue to clear snow from
fire hydrants and will clear storm-water drains in low-lying areas to assist
with flood prevention,” a New York National Guard statement said. “Sandbag
productions operations at Erie County Community College and the Hamburg DOT
facility will continue. Guard soldiers will continue to assist law enforcement
with traffic control operations in Hamburg and will provide general assistance
to law enforcement in both Hamburg and Boston.”
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