MD National Guard mobilized for Hurricane Irene support
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”1321″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” css=”.vc_custom_1500389049714{margin: 0px !important;border-width: 0px !important;padding: 1px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1502969989178{margin-top: 0px !important;margin-right: 0px !important;margin-bottom: 0px !important;margin-left: 0px !important;border-top-width: 0px !important;border-right-width: 0px !important;border-bottom-width: 0px !important;border-left-width: 0px !important;padding-top: 0px !important;padding-right: 0px !important;padding-bottom: 0px !important;padding-left: 0px !important;}”]By Maj. Rick Breitenfeldt, Maryland National Guard Public Affairs Office[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column][vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeIn”]
While the citizens of Maryland braced for Hurricane Irene and were warned to seek shelter or stay in their homes, more than 500 Citizen-Soldiers, Airmen and Maryland Defense Force volunteers from units across the state sprang into action to do what they do best–help their neighbors.
“The Maryland National Guard provides essential, life saving services quickly and comprehensively when local and state response capabilities are overwhelmed,” said Maj. Gen. James Adkins, adjutant general of Maryland.
Army Sgt. Matt Ryan (left) and Army Staff Sgt. Will Phillips (right), both medics from the 224th Area Support Medical Company, Maryland National Guard, assist local firefighters as they exit a house fire in Salisbury, Md. August 27, 2011. Local first responders were called to a house fire after a downed tree caused power lines to arc electricity through a surge protector inside the home. Residents were home and were able to exit the house to safety. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Darron Salzer)(Released)
About 25 Maryland Soldiers from units in Greenbelt, Laurel and Salisbury assigned to support the police and fire department in the Eastern Shore community of Salisbury completed more than 20 missions during the height of the storm. Guard members were paired up with police officers to patrol the streets during the storm and provided medical support to firefighters who continued responding to calls during the dangerous storm.Salisbury Mayor James Ireton said the Maryland National Guard made it possible to successfully patrol the city and protect the citizens during the emergency.
“The reassurance to city leaders that the Guard offered may have come at a monetary price,” said Ireton, “but the sense of safety the Guard afforded cannot be calculated.”
1st Lt. Terri Davis, the officer in charge of the team assigned to support the Salisbury fire and police departments, said she couldn’t be more proud of her fellow Citizen Soldiers.
“We are here to support the community of Salisbury and the citizen of Maryland,” said Davis, a physician’s assistant with the 224th Area Support Medical Company. “This is what being in the Guard is all about.”
Fire Chief Jeff Simpson, who leads a highly trained department of 64 full-time and 120 volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, said his department appreciated the skills and equipment the Guard offered during the emergency.
“Supporting the citizens requires flawless support and execution by the numerous agencies represented and the National Guard gives us a capability to fulfill that mission,” said Simpson.The Joint Operations Center for the Maryland National Guard was able to monitor requests for assistance from 12 local emergency operations centers with County Liaison Teams. Each liaison team consists of four Guard members who are trained to work in and with the local emergency managers. This was the first time that the COLT teams were extensively used in Maryland.
Adkins said the Maryland Guard performed more than 35 missions around the state during the storm and they continue to work with FEMA to help distribute food and water.
“The Maryland National Guard has a proven track record for success in providing military support to civilian authorities; reacting to flooding, snow storms and hurricanes,” added Adkins.
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