Guard continues to support agencies after blizzard

By Journal staff | Wednesday, November 12, 2008

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On Veterans Day, the men and women of the South Dakota National Guard continued to help state emergency management agencies as residents recover from the fall blizzard that hit western South Dakota last week.

Soldiers from the Rapid City-based Task Force 109 continue operating three snow blowers and one loader in Meade and Butte counties.

In Harding County, Task Force 881, based in Sturgis, is working to open access trails with four D7 bulldozers as Moreau Grand Electric and Western Area Power Association crews restore power to rural residents and communities.

Two D7 bulldozer teams with support crews from TF109 opened snow-clogged roads and trails helping Lacreek Electric's efforts to restore power to residents in Shannon County.

A week ago, more than 100 soldiers and airmen of the state's 4,200 available Guard members helped with emergency-management agency operations. The Guard dispatched four snow blowers with crews last Friday to help the South Dakota Department of Transportation's efforts in clearing Interstate 90, which opened that evening.

Later that evening, a National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and crew successfully evacuated four residents, three of whom require dialysis, from Wanblee to the Pine Ridge Hospital. In addition, one UH-60 Blackhawk and crew flew a reconnaissance mission with Gov. Mike Rounds and other emergency management officials to assess ground conditions over western South Dakota.