Flood operations continue in North Dakota today, while missions in two other states have wrapped up and still another monitors the situation after heavy rains over the weekend.

More than 1,000 Guard members in North Dakota are still performing flood mitigation operations in the Red River Valley and the Missouri River areas, which are experiencing flooding due to the thawing of snow.

Current operations include including pumping operations in Lisbon, N.D., hauling gravel, and flood protection efforts in Drayton, N.D. They are being helped by UH-60 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Minnesota and Wisconsin.

In addition to active flood-fighting, the Guard is also protecting North Dakota citizens through dike patrols, temporary shelters and traffic control points.

Army Lt. Dan Murphy, the state public affairs officer for North Dakota, said troops will remain in place to monitor the river. A date has not been set for ending the mission.

North Dakota’s neighbor across the river, Minnesota, relieved most of its Guard members from flood duty in the Moorhead, Minn., area April 3.

A small contingent remains on duty to monitor the river and pump operations in Norman and Marshall counties, provide security in the form of roving patrols and traffic control points as well as transportation and aviation support.

At the height of operations, more than 500 Minnesota Army and Air National Guard members were called up by the governor.

Louisiana also ended its response to a potential flood in Pearl River, a town on the state’s border with Mississippi.

Guard and state officials monitored the weather and used the opportunity to train for the 2009 flood season by positioning high-water vehicles and helicopters in nearby Slidell and Hammond, La., to facilitate property protection and evacuation if necessary.

After the training, Guard officials said the troops are well prepared for any event that may come their way.

“Our Soldiers responded in a timely, professional manner in support of civil authorities and the local community,” said Army Col. John Angelloz, commander of the 225th Engineer Brigade (Rear). “Their actions are a direct reflection of outstanding emergency operations training, tremendous leadership and a great volunteer spirit.”

In Georgia, the state Joint Force Headquarters will continue to work with its civilian partners after heavy rains drenched the state over the weekend. Gov. Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency in 10 counties today.

According to National Guard Bureau, the Federal Emergency Management Agency reported one fatality, two shelters were opened and numerous bridges and roads were closed throughout the state.

DVIDS
Story by Sgt. Patrick McCollum

Civil Air Patrol picture of Wahpeton, North Dakota and Breckenridge, MN Red River flooding on March 24, 2009.

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – Critical integration of efforts and resources has helped the citizens of North Dakota during the recent flooding that has hit that region in the past several days.

Part of that interagency integration has been placed in the hands of the Air Force Auxiliary, the official federal aviation arm of the Civil Air Patrol that provides indispensable emergency services to the U.S. Air Force and its customers.

The North Central Region of CAP has been flying AFAUX missions since March 19, when the unit received word about the potential of flooding in the Red River area of North Dakota, as well as other surrounding areas in Minnesota and South Dakota. Since then, they have flown more than 30 sorties and captured hundreds of visual images to give emergency responders and on-scene commanders the most up-to-date picture of the affected areas. In the case of flooding, CAP imagery can alert decision makers of damage to vital infrastructure, which can ultimately help save lives.

Falling under the operational control of the Joint Forces Air Component Commander, Maj. Gen. Hank Morrow, the AFAUX works around the clock to assist federal, state, county and local government and law enforcement agencies. One of the added benefits of employing AFAUX in its role is the amount of money saved by the Air Force. On average, it costs $120 an hour to fly and maintain a CAP aircraft, whereas the cost of flying an Air Force fighter, helicopter or larger aircraft is much higher, making CAP a cost-effective force multiplier and essential part of Air Forces Northern’s Defense Support for Civil Authorities mission.

Air Forces Northern’s response is coordinated by U.S. Northern Command. USNORTHCOM is responsible for defense of the homeland and, when ordered by the President or Secretary of Defense, defense support of civil authorities.

U.S. Northern Command

The latest information from NorthCom:

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – U.S. Northern Command continues to coordinate additional and ongoing Department of Defense’s support to Federal Emergency Management Agency, state and local authorities in North Dakota and Minnesota supporting disaster operations in response to flooding in North Dakota.

New – Minnesota

• Mobilized a Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element to FEMA Region V Regional Response Coordination Center in Bismarck, N.D., in response to the flooding. The DCO acts as the liaison between FEMA and USNORTHCOM, relaying capabilities available to FEMA and coordinating movement of active-duty personnel and equipment to assist should the need arise. The DCE acts as administrative support to the DCO.

Ongoing – North Dakota

• Deploying five CH-47 Chinook helicopters to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., for a variety of missions in support of FEMA. Potential missions include search and rescue, supply transportation, and movement of evacuees or other response personnel.
• Deploying two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., for a variety of missions in support of FEMA. Potential missions include search and rescue, supply transportation, and movement of evacuees or other response personnel.
• Deploying three Search and Rescue planners from U.S. Northern Command’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo., to assist in SAR planning at the Joint Personnel Recovery Center at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. These three planners from Standing Joint Force Headquarters North division of USNORTHCOM will assist in the efforts being conducted at the JRPC, which focuses specifically on large-scale search and rescue operations in the event of a hurricane or natural disaster. When a disaster occurs, the JPRC activates and coordinates the SAR actions of all rescue aircraft in the disaster area to improve the efficiency of rescue operations and reduce the potential for mishaps.
• Providing two search and rescue planners from Air Forces Northern at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. to the Joint Personnel Recovery Center.
• U.S. Northern Command, in coordination with Air Forces Northern, is sending one aviation planner to the North Dakota Emergency Operations Center to prepare for potential SAR missions in the affected areas.
• FEMA requested, and USNORTHCOM is supporting, Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., as a National Logistics Staging Area. The NLSA will consist of five to 10 acres of space, including 1,000 square feet of office space, necessary to support forward distribution of supplies and equipment to affected areas in North Dakota. The airfield at the base is also being used to forward stage Active Duty helicopters indicated in the new portion of the release.
• Mobilized a Defense Coordinating Officer and Defense Coordinating Element to FEMA Region VIII Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC) in Bismarck, N.D., in response to the flooding. The DCO acts as the liaison between FEMA and USNORTHCOM, relaying capabilities available to FEMA and coordinating movement of active-duty personnel and equipment to assist should the need arise. The DCE acts as administrative support to the DCO.

U.S. Northern Command, established in the wake of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, is responsible for Homeland Defense and Defense Support of Civil Authorities.

An HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, from Coast Guard Air Stations Traverse City, Mich., flies over the Red River March 28, 2009, in response to the flooding. Another Dolphin helicopter, from Air Station New Orleans, accompanied them during the transit from Grand Forks to Fargo to stand-by for rescue operations. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 3rd Class Erik Swanson)

Machinery Technician 3rd Class Dan Fraley of Station Sault Ste. Marie assists an Oxbow, N.D. resident and her faithful friend as they disembark from the station's airboat along the Red River in North Dakota, Thursday, March 26, 2009. The station is one of three airboat crews from the Ninth Coast Guard District which conducted house-to-house searches for citizens in distress ubder the incident command of Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River in flood-prone communities on the Red River. (U.S. Coast Guard/Photo by Petty Officer Bill Colclough)

Many more pics to be found here.

Here are some new items that may be of interest as you follow the flooding on the Red River.

Oakport Township Tested by Fire

While the nation anxiously waited for the Red River to crest in Fargo, small towns like Oakport Township on the outskirts of Fargo were already dealing with their own devastating flooding. And in Oakport’s case, fire.

The house fire added another tragic dimension to the situation in Oakport Township. Giant flames ate a huge gash through the roof as black smoke soared into the sky, all while a line of sandbags surrounded the base of the home.

Clay County Emergency Operations Center spokesman Dan Olson said fire crews couldn’t get closer than 200 feet from the home in Oakport Township because the area around it was so flooded.

The cause of the fire isn’t known, but township officials have been telling residents who are evacuating to shut off gas and electricity before leaving their homes. No injuries were reported.

Sgt. Ryan Alderman of the Clay County Sheriff’s Department said authorities had rescued more than 120 people by boat in Oakport Township since Thursday night. About half of the rescued people called officials and requested help, while the others waved down boats while they were on patrol in the town of about 1,600 people.

Garrison Dam has resumed water releases

North Dakota’s Garrison Dam has resumed water releases, which should bolster Washburn’s drinking water supplies and help restart two power plants, an Army Corps of Engineers spokesman says.

The dam ceased releasing water at midafternoon Tuesday to help relieve flooding problems downstream at Bismarck.

That flooding had eased by late Thursday, when the dam began releasing 3,000 cubic feet of water per second. It was releasing 9,000 cubic feet per second by Friday afternoon, corps spokesman Paul Johnston said. The flow should be enough to bring the river’s level back up to the intake pipes at Washburn’s water treatment plant, he said.

The increased water supply also should help the Stanton and Leland Olds electric power plants resume their operations, Johnston said.