PLN 20

I read the article “Guardsmen in Three States Battle Flood” By Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, what matters is more than 1,500 National Guard members in three Northeast states are waging a war against rising flood waters after several days of rain combined with melting snow. Massachusetts has called up more than 900 soldiers, while Rhode Island and Connecticut have more than 500 and 150 on duty, respectively. U.S. Northern Command also activated two coordinating units today in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s northeast regional office to assist in the flood response. Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick has authorized the mobilization of 1,000 soldiers and airman to support the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. Soldiers have filled and transported about 9,000 sandbags from the state highway department in Lexington, Mass., to points of distribution in Lexington, Tewksbury, Bridgewater and Millbury. Additional soldiers and airmen called for state active duty not only will continue to fill and transport sandbags to affected areas, but also will conduct emergency evacuation operations and presence patrols and provide security to isolated areas. This is really helping the residents of those states and it is a tragedy of what has happened. This is affecting thousands of people. People have lost their home and are alone but help is coming.