Sgt. Jordan Osowski and Spc. Jacob Weible, both with the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, patrol a dike in Neche, N.D., April 21, 2011. About a dozen North Dakota National Guardsmen are on flood duty in Neche.

On one end of the Red River Valley, Wahpeton and Fargo have breathed sighs of relief at surviving another flood. The northern end of the valley is just bracing for their crests, though, and the North Dakota National Guard is there to help in Walhalla, Pembina, Drayton and Neche, N.D.

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment have been placed in these towns to monitor dikes and respond to emergency situations, such as leaks and breaches in dikes. They also have equipment available should anyone need to be evacuated.

Twelve soldiers are stationed in Neche, their primary role being dike patrolling. Six soldiers patrol during the day and six patrol at night.

Southwest of town, there is a road that acts as a dam holding back a large amount of water. Two soldiers are stationed to watch the road at night to monitor any possible breaks in the road.

“We are here to help the people,” said Sgt. 1st Class Terry Stickel, of Lehr, N.D. “If the road holding back all the water breaks, the people may be in trouble without us.”

In Walhalla, 24 soldiers alternate 12-hour shifts, ensuring a dozen soldiers are available at any given time of the day as a quick response force, or QRF. The team stands ready to respond to emergencies in Neche, Pembina and Walhalla.

In Drayton, another dozen Guardsmen continue to patrol levees and monitor pumps. The city has had the longest running Guard presence in the northern Red River Valley, with Guard members beginning their mission there on April 11.

In Pembina, Guardsmen work closely with community volunteers to patrol the dikes. Four Guardsmen help community members during the day, and seven are on duty at night.

Capt. Walyn Vannurden, of Cavalier, N.D., serves as the liaison officer for Pembina County. He expressed confidence in how the situation looks in those areas.

“We brought up a lot of soldiers, a lot of support, a lot of assets and vehicles to support the communities,” he said. “If there’s an emergency situation, we’re here to help. We’re ready to respond at a moment’s notice.”

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Story by Pfc. Jessica Raasch

Farmland near Valley City, N.D., April 23. About 140 National Guard members are fighting the flood here patrolling dikes, checking pumps and conducting Quick Reaction Force operations. Photo by Sgt. Jesica Geffre

Staff Sgt. Marie Hovrud, from Bismarck, N.D., North Dakota National Guard is a crew chief with 2/285th Helicopter Assault Battalion currently supporting the flood fight here. She and more than 400 fellow Guardsmen are serving on flood duty through the Easter weekend, some of them serving with the Guard for the second and even third year in a row.

Part of Hovrud’s job is to direct the helicopters when they have a load to bring in on a long-line, a long cable that holds cargo that needs to be placed somewhere specific. The crew is also trained on hoist missions, which involves lowering a basket that a rescuer rides down in to pick up a passenger that is stranded.

Hovrud says the benefit of being close by is that they can react quickly in an emergency.

“My mother lives in an area that was affected by the flood in previous years and she said she feels better knowing the National Guard is close by,” Havrud said. “If something happens, we’re right here when they need us.”

This will be her third Easter away from home due to military obligations, last year she was deployed to Iraq and in 2009 she was in North Dakota fighting the floods in several locations.

Hovrud said the ’09 experience was extremely beneficial to this year’s effort.

“We dropped so many sandbags that year, we really got it down.”

Chief Warrant Officer 2 David Kilber, 1/112th Headquarters and Headquarters Company, a pilot on the Quick Reaction Force here, said he is happy to be participating in the flood fight.

“I love it,” Kilber said. “I volunteered for this; it’s a great way to get real-world experience.”

Kilber flies the Utility Helicopter 60 Black Hawk that is being used in the flood fight to conduct reconnaissance missions, help in emergency rescues and assist the Quick Reaction Force in placing the large one-ton sandbags to re-enforce the levee system when necessary.

Spc. Shane Leingang, an Aviation Operations Specialist with C Company 2/285th AHB, has been on the flood fight since the beginning of April. Leingang is the communication link between the Joint Operations Center and 2/285th AHB.

His job focuses on the logistical aspect of moving aircraft and personnel related to the mission in Cass County.

The unit is part of the Quick Reaction Force that would respond to overland flooding by hoisting the one-ton sandbags into places difficult to reach by land.

“In 2009 we did a lot and it worked well,” Leingang said. “So they wanted us on standby again this year.”

Currently, the NDNG has about 150 Guardsmen in Valley City. They are conducting Quick Reaction Force missions, dike patrols, and running a Tactical Operations Center. One Black Hawk helicopter is on hand to assist with sandbag placement or search and rescue missions if needed.

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Story by Sgt. Jesica Geffre

Tech Sgt. Kevin Reinhardt, left, and Staff Sgt. AnthonySalquist, both of the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, prepare 1.5-ton sandbags for filling with sand from a cement truck, so they can be used in flood fighting operations March 19 at the North Dakota Air National Guard, Fargo, N.D. The large sandbags are being readied for UH-60 helicopter sling-load operations, should they be necessary in an emergency to battle rising floodwaters anywhere in eastern North Dakota. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp

The first week of the 2010 flood fight has come with numerous familiar tools and tasks for the North Dakota National Guard. After spending nearly 100 days on flood duty in 2009, one might expect few new experiences less than a year later. To the contrary, the first five days of flood operations brought three new tools or methods in holding back the rising floodwaters.

BIG BAG USA FLOOD BARRIER
Just a few days into flood operations, Guardsmen had the opportunity to work with Big Bags USA Flood Barriers, which are large pleated bags that unfold and are filled with sand. The bags stand 3 feet high with one system stretching 15 feet — or the equivalent capacity of about 500 sandbags. They’re fitted with a wood U-shaped frame, which allows each bag to be connected to the next with just four drywall screws.

“The Big Bag consists of five individual bags, each a cubic yard. They’re connected together with our patented U-frame design and open up like an accordion,” said Tom Spalj, a Big Bag representative with DRIPS (Disaster Relief & Innovative Protection Systems). “They’re about 60 to 70 pounds — depending on the water weight of the wood — apiece, but they’re so quick, they open up to 15 feet in less than 10 seconds.”

The bags can then be filled with sand using a skid-steer loader, front-end loader or other similar equipment. On Thursday, North Dakota Guardsmen used a skid steer to fill a line of bags that, along with a clay dike, are protecting the Timberline neighborhood in Fargo.

While the technology is new to the United States — only one other city has used it previously — it’s been used in Asia and Europe for about 15 years, with the design originating in Germany.

GIANT SANDBAGS
On Friday, Guardsmen filled 50 giant sandbags and secured them with cables at the North Dakota Air National Guard base in Fargo. Similar to bags placed aerially on breaches during last year’s flood fight, this year brings a slightly bigger size — a little more than the 1-ton bags used last year — and a faster way to fill them. Last year, a skid-steer loader with bucket attachment scooped sand to fill the bags. This year, Guardsmen used a cement mixer truck. When filled with sand, the cement truck could quickly and cleanly load the bags when they were held under the chute by the tines on a forklift.

“These bags will actually hold about 3,000 pounds but we can’t fill them that full. We’re getting somewhere between 2,000, 2,500 pounds, somewhere in there,” said Master Sgt. Gary Koslofsky, of the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

After the bags were filled, a UH-60 Black Hawk crew from the Minnesota National Guard , which is assisting North Dakota through an Emergency Management Assistance Contract, or EMAC, practiced sling-loading and hoisting the bags.

According to Sgt. 1st Class Todd Sudheimer, the team is ready to not only place the giant sandbags, but to use their rescue hoist to evacuate people, if needed.

“We haul people around, we haul equipment around, I guess anything we’re asked to do,” he said.

AQUAFENCE

Airman 1st Class Casey Pritchard, of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, assembles a section of an experimental aqua fence March 17, Fargo, N.D. The aqua fence is being installed by the North Dakota Air National Guard as a test flood barrier to see if it might be effective for use in future flood protection. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp

Guardsmen worked with a more innovative tool — another one never before seen in Fargo — on Wednesday when they installed more than 200 feet of AquaFence. Like the Big Bag barriers, the AquaFence concept comes from overseas. Manufactured in Norway, it consists of plywood panels that unfold, are secured open with aluminum poles and are then connected to the conjoining panel with a section of PVC.

“It’s not a lot of back-breaking work like chucking sandbags,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Terry, of Argusville, N.D., the noncommissioned officer in charge of the AquaFence assembly project.

Marius Hansen, managing director for AquaFence, said the product is reusable and has been tested up to 100 times.

“I think they’re trying to figure out something for the next 10 to 12 years,” said Master Sgt. Terry L. Babler of the city of Fargo.

The AquaFence was rented by the city to see how it performed on the stretch of river just north of NP Avenue in Fargo.

Despite the opportunities a number of Guardsmen have had to get first-hand experience with flood control products new to the area, many are doing familiar work. About 660,000 hours were dedicated to flood duty last year by North Dakota Guardsmen, during which time they sandbagged, provided traffic control points, patrolled dikes and served on quick reaction force teams ready to help in an emergency. Those roles are successfully being filled once again during this flood.

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Story by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp

Senior Master Sgt. Scott Wagner, of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, drills a hole in pavement to secure an experimental aqua fence in place March 17, Fargo, N.D. The aqua fence is being installed by the North Dakota Air National Guard as a test flood barrier to see if it might be effective for use in future flood protection. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp

North Dakota Air National Guard members became the first to install a new tool in the flood fight today when they placed a section of AquaFence in Fargo. The city has never used the product before, so the effort served as a demonstration of the ease with which it can be installed. As the Red River creeps toward its crest of 37 to 39 feet this weekend, the durability of the fence will be tested, as well.

“We’re trying it out to see if it’s a tool the city can use in future flood fights,” said Nathan Boerboom, an engineer for the City of Fargo. “If it works out, the city may purchase some and use in future flood fights.”

If by chance it doesn’t work as anticipated, a clay dike stands ready behind it.

Airmen put in a little more than 200 linear feet of the barrier near NP Avenue on the North Dakota-Minnesota border today.

The AquaFence is a reusable barrier system that consists of plywood boards at right angles to each other with aluminum bars anchoring the panels.

“It’s like a book that you just open up 90 degrees,” said Marius Hansen, managing director for AquaFence.

A PVC shield connects each panel, which also is bolted to the ground.

“It’s a very simple process,” said Helge Krøgenes, AquaFence chairman, who traveled from company headquarters in Norway to show the Airmen how the system worked.

Each panel requires four people to carry it into position, but only one person is needed to set it up.

“This is a demo process, so the ground has not been prepared yet, so the set up will be a little bit longer here than what you can expect at normal times,” Hansen said. He correctly estimated the two-plus hours the 14 Airmen would need to complete the project.

“We’re here with a representative of the company and he’s giving us some instruction on how it goes up, and the guys are staying busy putting it all together,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Terry, noncommissioned officer in charge of the project.

According to Boerboom, some advantages that the AquaFence appears to offer over the HESCO barriers used frequently in last year’s flood fight are that less clean up is involved and it’s less intrusive on property.

“It’s a pretty easy product to work with versus sandbags,” said Master Sgt. Terry L. Babler.

Since the North Dakota National Guard began flood operations on March 15, sandbagging has been the major effort in the Fargo area.

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Nathional Weather Service flood risk map for Spring 2010

The National Weather Service (NWS) released a late winter / spring forecast today describing the threat of "imminent Midwest flooding", as well as flooding in the South and East. The risk map they have provided shows the highest risk to be in the Red River valley and the upper Mississippi River valley running through North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains is at above average risk for flooding.

NWS watches and warnings

The NWS describes a Midwest snow pack that is deeper and more widespread than in 2009, with cold temperatures in the region have prevented any melting until recently. 2009 saw record flood marks set along the Red River. April 2009 saw old records for high water eclipsed in many North Dakota river communities. At that time, the National Guard and regular military joined the Coast Guard for rescues and flood relief and protection missions.

The North Dakota National Guard began mobilizing for flood operations on March 15. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has declared a state of emergency in 28 counties and has activated the Minnesota National Guard. In West Virginia, National Guard troops will be engaged in debris removal beginning March 16.

Standard homeowner’s insurance or tenant’s insurance does not cover damage from flooding. The United States offers a flood insurance program where coverage may be found, providing financial protection in the event of a flood.

In this video released by the U.S. Coast Guard, federal, state and local agencies offer assistance to a couple and their three dogs trapped by Red River flood waters near Kindred, N.D., Saturday April 18, 2009.

High resolution video is available at the following link: Coast Guard Rescue near Kindred N.D.

Coast Guard aircrews and boatcrews have conducted several patrols of flood-affected areas along the Sheyenne, Red, and James rivers since Monday, April 16, 2009, including the rescue of two women near Lisbon, N.D. on Tuesday, April 14, 2009.

Current Coast Guard units assisting city, state and other federal resources are:

• A Disaster Assistance Response Team from Marine Safety Detatchment St. Paul, Minn.
• A DART from MSD Quad Cities in Rock Island, Ill.
• An MH-65C rescue helicopter and crew from Air Station New Orleans.
• An HH-65C rescue helicopter and crew from Air Station Traverse City, Mich.
• An HH-65C rescue helicopter from Traverse City, Mich.
• An HH-65C rescue helicopter from Air Station Detroit, Mich.
• An airboat from Station Sault Sainte Marie, Mich.
• An airboat from Station Saginaw, Mich.
• An airboat from Station Marblehead, Ohio.
• An airboat from Station Sturgeon Bay, Wis.
• A smallboat from the Coast Guard Cutter Scioto.
• A smallboat from the Coast Guard Cutter Sangamon.