A U.S. flag flies, covered in mud and debris, in front of the Cameron, La., court house Sept. 15. The flag was rescued by members of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 528th Engineer Battalion who were performing cleanup operations in the city. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Bennie J. Davis III)

As Hurricane Ike slammed ashore on Sept. 13, 2008, the National Guard was already at work evacuating stranded citizens from their homes and other locations across Southwest Louisiana.

By noon, members of the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, working in conjunction with local and state authorities, rescued 19 people, including three children, as well as four family pets, and responded to numerous calls for assistance from both civilians and other rescue agencies.

The day began hours before daylight, as National Guard members prepared their rescue equipment and vehicles and themselves mentally for whatever the day might bring.

Around 7 a.m., a line of high-water vehicles and Humvees loaded with troops rolled out of their armories to begin the process of locating those in need and getting them to safety.

Almost as soon as they rolled out, Soldiers reported flooding and street blockages throughout the area – in lower Vermillion Parish, water rose fast and threatened two of the towns including Erath High School; water at Pen Street Park rose nearly six inches an hour; an apartment complex had water coming in on the first floor; power outages occurred in multiple locations; communications went down – and the reports continued.

Just before 8 a.m., a paraplegic trapped in his home called for rescue. By the time Soldiers arrived, police had removed the man, but another family of six called needing evacuation and the Guardsmen obliged, transporting them to Chennault Air Park in Lake Charles, La. Another rescue occurred soon after in Westlake, La.

Soldiers were also asked to assist the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries with a rescue request of 17 people.

By 10 a.m., the Guard received several more requests including one with residents trapped in their subdivision and an elderly couple stuck in their home. In the meantime, waters continued to rise and winds showed no signs of abating.

Throughout the effort, estimates cited sustained winds of 40 mph and gusts up to 60 mph, which only served to complicate efforts.

By midday, the Guard received various other requests for assistance and responded to a group of people stranded in a casino parking lot and others who had to be rescued by boat.

Even as the requests continue to pour in, the 256th has no plans of slowing effort or of curbing operations. They will stay on mission as long as they are needed, according to officials.

“We’re proud of the work our troops are doing out there,” said Lt. Col. James Waskom, deputy commander of the 256th. “But we’ve got to keep our head in the game because there is lots of work still out there to do.”

DVIDS
By Maj. David W. May
Louisiana National Guard Public Affairs

Here’s a collection of pics from the military showing their efforts during Hurricane Gustav.

LINK

Bookmark it because it will be added to over the next several days.

Members of the Louisiana Air National Guard medical team assist a special-needs resident at the Union Passenger Terminal Station in New Orleans on Aug. 30, 2008, as she prepares to be evacuated prior to the arrival of Hurricane Gustav. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael L. Owens, 241st Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

With the full force of the Louisiana National Guard activated, more than 7,000 citizen-soldiers and -airmen are assisting local authorities with evacuation and security efforts in New Orleans and performing dozens of other missions across the state as Hurricane Gustav approaches. As the Guard and the state brace for the powerful storm, each day brings new challenges that all agencies involved must work together to overcome.

“Louisiana citizens and our governor needed the Guard, and we were there immediately, redirecting hundreds of troops to assist New Orleans with their evacuation plan,” Army Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, Louisiana’s adjutant general, said.

Guard soldiers began patrolling the streets of New Orleans yesterday, assisting with security as the area began evacuating citizens. They were scheduled to begin helping the state police with “contraflow” operations today, a process that converts normally inbound roads to handle outbound evacuation traffic.

About 400 National Guard soldiers and airmen are driving buses, transporting citizens to shelters across the state.

In other areas, convoys carrying more than 900 soldiers from the 225th Engineer Brigade arrived in Lake Charles, Napoleonville, Iowa, Breaux Bridge, Lake Charles and Rayne yesterday to assist civil authorities with evacuation and security of citizens moving from southwestern Louisiana on contraflow routes.

“One of our greatest strengths is that we are citizen-soldiers and live in the communities we serve, Landreneau said. “We are able to transition from our civilian careers to military roles quickly when called upon.”

The activation of the 225th Engineer Brigade calls into service soldiers who are responsible for boat search-and-rescue missions, engineer assessment teams that will deploy to support coastal parishes, security teams and contraflow support.

As the Louisiana Guard activation has reached full potential, officials have called on sister states to support additional requirements created by Gustav’s landfall, expected tomorrow afternoon. Battalions from Kentucky and Tennessee and 28 aircraft arrived in Louisiana yesterday, thanks to the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a mutual-support agreement among states.

A Guard military intelligence battalion already serving in hurricane operations has provided a Spanish-speaking soldier to relocate to New Orleans and assist residents in understanding instructions being given by the governor and other agencies.

DoD