Guard wades into Indiana flooding

By Army Spc. Thaddeus Harrington
National Guard Bureau

Following torrential rainfall from the remnants of Hurricane Ike, the Indiana National Guard was called to help evacuate people from the flooded community of Munster, Ind., Sept. 14. Staff Sgt. Travis Hackett with the 738th Medical Company of Monticello, Ind., assisted by a member of the Munster Fire Department, navigated the dark and slippery stairwells of a flooded nursing home. More than 150 patients were evacuated from the Munster Medical Inn and sent to neighboring hospitals. (Photo by Sgt. Michael B. Krieg, Indiana National Guard)
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ARLINGTON, Va. - About 180 Indiana National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are supporting relief missions during massive flooding in northern Indiana. Rain began to fall for 48 hours Sept. 11 caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ike as it passed through the Midwest. Ike’s leftovers moved through Indiana carrying winds of 50 mph. The 6-8 inches of heavy rain and high winds downed many power lines, reportedly leaving more than 87,000 people without electricity.

So far, Guardmembers have evacuated more than 5,000 people.

Initially, 40 Guardsmen were activated on Sept. 14 to assist the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Commanded by Lt. Col. Paul South, commander of the 113th Engineer Battalion, Indiana Guard personnel have been placing sandbags, providing security, conducting search and rescue missions, and assisting local authorities. They have also provided equipment such as generators, aircraft, sandbag machines, and high-water vehicles.

“The biggest task we have is getting hold of the incident planner at the location and determining their immediate needs. Then we're looking into the near future and setting ourselves up to meet the follow on needs before it really becomes a need,” said South on Wednesday.

The Guardsmen come from several different units such as Joint Forces Headquarters, the 81st Troop Command, the 38th Infantry Division, the 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, and the 738th Medical Company.

During the evacuation of the Munster Medical Inn, a nursing facility 30 miles from Chicago, Guardsmen from the 81st Troop Command assisted the local fire department in evacuating 150 people from the five-story building. The Soldiers assisted wheelchair bound patients down several flights of stairs during the evacuation.

The Indiana National Guard will continue its search and rescue missions, power generation, sandbagging, and evacuation operations. They are also helping to make the interstate highway passable.

“It’s been a good experience for my guys and a good experience for the Guard," said South. “We love doing this stuff, and we’re glad we’re here. I’d like to see these guys get dry and get home in northwest Indiana,” he added.