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Indiana
National Guard and local responders pitch in to aid
Lake Shafer
residents
Story by Spc. William E. Henry,
Indiana
National Guard
Monticello, IN—Indiana Army National Guard units
were activated to the Lake Shafer area along with several volunteer
emergency responder agencies from White County to fill sandbags
February 13.
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In spite of the freezing temperatures, CPL
Duane Noe from the 1638th Transportation Company,
Remington, Ind.,
ties off one of hundreds of sandbags to be used against the
rising waters of Lake Shafer, Ind.,
February 13. Photo
by: SGT Michael Krieg, Indiana
Army National Guard
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Soldiers from 1638th
Transportation Company from Remington, and Detachment 1 from Gary,
along with the 1538th Transportation Company from Elkhart,all
came to assist in the efforts and filled about 9,000 sandbags by the
end of the operation.
The sandbags will be used to help prevent further
damage to homes in the area due to an ice blockage on a bridge
causing water to continue to rise in the lake.
The White County Emergency Management Agency
Deputy Director, Rose Brady, said they called on the Indiana
National Guard for additional help.
“The only thing we can do is sandbag, that’s why
the state activated the National Guard because we didn’t have the
manpower to do it.”
She added that there are not enough words for
people who volunteer their time to help prevent further damage to
the homes in the communities across the state.
Resident Tim Dwier echoed Brady’s sentiments
referring to the Indiana National Guard as an asset to Hoosiers.
“I
think its great the National Guard came to help. It’s a natural
disaster and this area has been considered a disaster area.”
Corporal Duane Noe of the 1638th Transportation
Company in Remington said he was happy to assist, despite the
adverse weather conditions.
“It’s cold, but I enjoy helping the community,
it’s good to give back. It’s nice to see everybody out here trying
to give something back and do their part.”
Specialist Andre Dawson,
of the Detachment 1, 1638th Transportation Company in Gary,
had similar thoughts.
“I think it’s going to
help the community whereas they are going to say that the National
Guard, the town’s people and everybody came together. It will help
to know that at least somebody came to their rescue.”
Caption, thumbnail: The efforts to hold back the
rising flood waters of Lake Shafer in White County, Indiana,
involved many state and county agencies February 13. Mrs. Rose
Brady, the Deputy Director for the White County Emergency Management
Agency, works side by side filling sandbags with members of the
1638th Transportation Company from Remington and
Gary, as well as the 1538th Transportation Company from
Elkhart,
Indiana. Photo by SGT Michael Krieg, Indiana
National Guard
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