New York National Guard Moves From One Disaster to Another at Governor's Direction

By Eric Durr, New York State Division of Military and Naval AffairsSeptember 9, 2011

New York Army National Guard Responds to Flooding in Binghamton
1 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BINGHAMTON--The result of rising waters in the Susquehanna River on the City of Binghamton is clearly evident from a New York Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter as aviators moved into position to provide assistance to local officials and ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
New York Army National Guard Responds to Flooding in Binghamton
2 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BINGHAMTON--New York Army National Guard Specialist Kyle Monroe, a crew chief from Army Aviation Support Facility Three in Albany, unloads water and meals ready to eat at Atlantic Airport in Johnson City in preparation for himself and otherNew York A... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
New York Army National Guard Responds to Flooding in Binghamton
3 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – NICHOLS, N.Y.--New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer Charles Rodda from Army Aviation Support Facility 3 in Latham assists residents of the town of Nichols in passing supplies he just ferried in on an Army National Guard UH-60. The Guard... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
New York Army National Guard Responds to Flooding in Binghamton
4 / 4 Show Caption + Hide Caption – BINGHAMTON, N.Y.- New York Army National Guard Spc. Kyle Monroe arranges packs of water bottles on a NY National Guard UH-60 helicopter that landed at The State University of New York,Binghamton on Thursday night to pick up supplies headed for a she... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

BINGHAMTON, NY (09/09/2011) The New York Army National Guard reshuffled troops, vehicles and aircraft on Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7 and 8, and went from one disaster to another as New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo directed state resources towards Binghamton in anticipation of cresting flood levels on Thursday.

By Thursday afternoon, 350 Soldiers and Airmen were on duty in the Southern Tier city, equipped with 44 vehicles, including high-axle trucks that could negotiate flooded streets.

Seven aircraft-two Air National Guard HH-60 Pave hawk Search and Rescue helicopters, two Army National Guard UH-60 medical evacuation helicopters with hoists, a "slick" U-60, an OH-58 and a CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopter-were on the ground at the Broome County Airport ready to assist as well.

Guard aviators rescued 38 people and moved 11,000 pounds of food and blankets on Thursday and Friday. In one rescue a Guard OH-58 identified residents stranded in their house using thermal imaging equipment and guided a local volunteer fire department's boat to them.

On Friday, Sept. 9, more than 550 Guardsmen continued to extract residents from flooded houses and transport supplies to shelters using humvees and high-axle vehicles. They also conducted security missions and point of distribution missions providing water and other supplies.

Guard members had rescued 322 area residents including 130 guests at a local motel and 150 people from two different nursing homes.

His unit was conducting both logistics missions and evacuation missions in Tioga County, said 204th Engineer Battalion commander Lt. Col. James Freehart. When missions come in a team goes out in about 20 minutes, Freehart said.

The landfall of Tropical Storm Irene over New York City and Long Island on August 28, and resulting heavy rains which caused flooding in mountain valley towns, had resulted in Governor Cuomo ordering the New York National Guard to put 2,700 Soldiers and Airmen on duty.

More than 770 New York Army and Air National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were still on duty as the remains of Tropical Storm Lee swept up through the United States. The heavy rainfall boosted the water level in the Susquehanna River, which runs through the city of Binghamton, to more than 18 feet above normal in 24 hours.

On Thursday, county officials ordered about 10,000 residents to evacuate in the region.

So Guard resources shifted as the disaster needs of local authorities moved into Broome County.

Soldiers from the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry, headquartered in Niagara Falls, who had been heading towards Greene and Schoharie counties in the Hudson Valley, were rerouted to Binghamton on Wednesday, Sept. 7. The troops had been due to relieve Soldiers who had been on duty since Tropical Storm Irene hit New York on August 28.

Soldiers from the 204th Engineer Battalion, which is headquartered in Binghamton, who were on duty in Greene and Schoharie counties headed back to their home base to assist residents.

As flood waters rose on Wednesday night, three LMTV trucks from the 204th's field maintenance shop responded to police requests and rescued 80 civilians from an inaccessible area and moved them to higher ground.

Soldiers of the 101st Signal Battalion, who had been on duty in the Hudson Valley, were also moved into the Binghamton area at the governor's direction.

Major General Patrick Murphy, the Adjutant General, and Assistant Adjutant General Brig. Gen. Anthony German were on the ground in Binghamton at the direction of Governor Cuomo to help direct National Guard assets in support of local authorities.

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New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs