Soldiers from Fort Jackson took quick action during recent floods, moving residents' furniture from the waters' path and sparing some Columbia residents the full measure of nature's wrath.
Students at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy were off post during the downpour Oct. 3, looking for something to eat when they saw an obviously distressed man sitting outside his home.
When the Soldiers asked the man what was wrong, he told them he had lost everything.
The Soldiers sprang into action, helping the man and his neighbors.
The next morning, they took along reinforcements -- more than 50 drill sergeant candidates who had Oct. 5-7 off.
One of those reinforcements was drill sergeant candidate Staff Sgt. Gene Royer. When Staff Sgt. Ralph Perkins stopped Royer in the barracks hallway to ask whether he wanted to help, Royer didn't hesitate.
"I believe helping anyone in need is important, not just the flood victims," Royer said.
"I think that Soldiers should do their part to assist the community in their time of need. The military has been deploying for years now, and the community has supported us so, it only seems right to return the favor."
The Soldiers ripped out carpets, moved furniture and generally tried to save as many of the homeowners' valuables as possible.
Staff. Sgt. Alan Allosada, another candidate who volunteered, was quoted in the State newspaper as saying that Service members attack problems head on.
"We're in the military, so for us, to go toward problems is what we're kind of trained to do," the State quoted him as saying.
Command Sgt. Maj. Lamont Christian, Academy commandant, lauded the Soldiers' actions.
"I couldn't be prouder," he said. "It is in our culture that we give back to the community."
The academy is so involved in volunteering that it has joined the President's Volunteer Awards program. The program recognizes Americans who achieve a certain number of volunteer hours, which earns them a letter of recognition signed by the president; a Presidential Volunteer Service Award pin, medallion or coin; and a personalized certificate of appreciation.
N.C., Ga. Soldiers provide water relief
The 127th Quartermaster Company of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and 87th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion from Fort Stewart, Georgia, have provided relief to a thirsty Fort Jackson for the past week.
Soldiers from those posts have set up 12 distribution points providing purified water across post, and aided seven dining facilities providing three hot meals daily during the past three days, according to the Task Force Water officer in charge, Maj. Karl Sondermann of Fort Stewart's 3rd Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade.
They also have made it possible for the food court at the Main Exchange to open, and for Moncrief Army Community Hospital to resume operations postponed by the lack of clean water. Last week, Moncrief canceled surgeries because it was unable to sterilize surgical instruments.
The units have begun setting up laundry facilities that will serve two companies daily, to combat the pile-up of dirty ACUs needing attention. The break in the earthen dam -- and resulting runoff -- destroyed the post's laundry facility.
So far, the units have provided 40,000 gallons of water. They have 90,000 more on hand for dispersal.
"We're out here purifying the water for all the Soldiers on Fort Jackson (and) doing what we love to do," said Lt. Devin Meadows, 226th Composite Supply Company, 87th CSSB, 3rd Infantry Division.
"We are able to help the community, (and) we're getting things up and running to help everybody get back to normal."
Boil-water advisory remains in effect
Residents and workers at Fort Jackson still must boil their water for cooking and drinking, even though other areas served by Columbia water do not.
Palmetto State Utility Services distributes water to Fort Jackson. The utility will flush and disinfect our main water tank and distribution lines, and chlorinate and test the water before deeming it safe to drink. That process is expected to take 72 hours from the City of Columbia ends the boil-water advisory for this area.
Fort Jackson -- not the city -- will notify those on post when the water is safe to drink.
"Fort Jackson will not be a burden to Columbia," post commander Roger Cloutier said at last Thursday's town hall meeting. "We're going to have to take care of ourselves."
The post has asked for -- and received -- assistance from Fort Bragg and Fort Stewart in setting up points around post where residents and workers can collect purified water.
Anheuser-Busch also delivered 52,000 cases of canned water to the post last week.
Keep an eye out for eroding areas
During Thursday's town hall meeting, garrison commander Col. James Ellerson asked residents to keep an eye on the sidewalks and driveways in their neighborhoods. Everybody can see what the rains and resulting floods did to Semmes Lake, he said. What they might not see is growing erosion in their yards.
Residents should not park their vehicles on driveways that appear to sit atop eroding foundations, he said. They also should call the garrison to report the difficulties.
"The key to this is (that) we've got a lot of people out there doing a lot of work," he said, "but they won't catch everything. So we need a lot of help."
$500 grants available to retired employees
Members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees living in areas that have been declared natural disaster areas may be eligible for as much as $500 NARFE-FEEA grants.
NARFE members in good standing who have been injured or incurred property damage at their primary places of residence may:
• Call Federal Employee Education and Assistance at 800-338-0755 (800-323-4140 after hours),
• Email rmartillaro@feea.org or
• Request written applications from:
NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund
c/o FEEA
3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd.
Suite 300
Lakewood, CO 80227
Those wanting more information may call Clara Gillentine at 803-796-3106.
CFC workers may volunteer to help
The Combined Federal Campaign team at Fort Jackson encourages volunteers to contribute to those needing relief by assisting:
• The American Red Cross, central South Carolina region, 803-540-1200 or erin.tyler@redcross.org.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 30, 483 Sunset Blvd., West Columbia.
Contact Capt. Amirah Cotton at amirah.n.cotton.mil@mail.mil.
Information from Jennifer Stride and Christine Schweickert of the Fort Jackson Leader was used in this report.
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