Military flood evacuation mission continues in Colorado

By Colorado National Guard Public AffairsSeptember 18, 2013

Colorado Rescue
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (Sept. 17, 2013) - Members of the Colorado and Wyoming National Guard, along with the U.S. Army's 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, from Fort Carson, Colo., are continuing their support of civil authorities in Colorado flood evacuation operations.

As of 10:30 a.m. Sept. 17, a total of 681 troops, 21 helicopters, 23 ground search-and-rescue teams, and 40 traffic-control points were operational.

Their cumulative number of military aerial evacuations is currently 2,378; 62 of them by hoist. Additionally, 856 animals have been evacuated by air.

Colorado National Guard troops have evacuated a cumulative of 676 people by ground, along with countless animals. Currently, 23 teams with 84 vehicles are operating in Boulder, Lyons, Fort Collins/Larimer County, Estes Park, Jefferson County, Weld County and Loveland.

A total of 3,054 people displaced by Colorado flooding have been evacuated by military personnel.

More than 265 Colorado National Guard members are currently manning 40 checkpoints in Fort Collins, Longmont, Greeley, Milliken/Evans, and Boulder in order to ensure public safety and protect property.

About 200 military vehicles are being used to support evacuation missions, most in direct support. Others, such as about a dozen fuel trucks, are being used to expedite helicopter refueling.

Over the weekend, Colorado National Guardsmen also helped fill nearly 10,000 sandbags in Jefferson County to help civil authorities mitigate flooding effects in Jefferson County, Colo.

According to Lance Blyth, U.S. Northern Command historian, the military response to the Colorado floods, dubbed "Operation Centennial Raging Waters," is likely the biggest rotary-wing airlift mission since Hurricane Katrina.

Related Links:

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