Missouri Guard engineers help in water-pumping effort

Citizen-Soldiers of the 220th Engineer Company transport high capacity water pumps from their previous location in Caruthersville to St. John's Bayou in New Madrid, May 9. Here, they will serve a greater purpose relieving pressure in the bayou, resulting in an possible damage to communities and roads in the area. (Photo by Jasmine Walthall/Missouri National Guard)

By Spc. Jasmine Walthall
ngmo.pao@us.army.mil

NEW MADRID, Mo. ¬ After two weeks of sandbagging and security missions, the Missouri National Guard transitioned to a different mission - hauling much-needed water pumps to the St. John's Bayou in New Madrid.

When Caruthersville saw lower-than-expected crests, the Guard saw the opportunity to use equipment that had been sent down there in an area where there was greater need, said Maj. Joe Leahy.

"There was the capability to have these high-capacity pumps that were placed in some cities to help protect that we no longer needed there," said Leahy, project officer in charge of installing the pump station at St. John's Bayou. "So instead of turning them in, we were able to re-utilize them to help protect other areas."

The pumps transfer 9,000- 10,000 gallons of water from one side of the levee to the other, which allows a reduction in pressure on the levee and keeps the possibility of flooding over Interstate 55 at a minimum.

"The goal is to keep water levels stable so as not to threaten other communities and travel routes," Leahy said.

Currently, the waters rising from St. John's Bayou onto Highway 55 are beginning to cover the road, and could lead to hazardous driving conditions or the closing of the road if not alleviated.

"The anticipated result of installing the pumps here is that it will relieve any water in backwater areas," Leahy said. "Highway 55 is a large concern because it is the main interstate for this area and the main way to get food and supplies from northern Missouri."

Pumps will operate 24 hours a day, being stopped periodically for maintenance.

"The pumps will virtually run all day and will remain in place as long as needed," Leahy said.

Although the constructing of the pump system was mostly done by contractors, the National Guard played a large and necessary part in the process.

"Two military units provided support in order to move the pumps by providing truck assets and that was the 220th Engineer Company and the 1221st Transportation Company," Leahy said. "They transported the pipes and pumps and made the process quicker and more economical."

The accomplishment was not a task solely accomplished by the National Guard and contractors. Leahy also showed appreciation for the St. John's Levee District, which mowed the grass at the pump site to make for a more efficient set-up process. New Madrid City also supplied the steel piping that allowed for the pipes to go over the road and will return with gravel to create a driving lane.

Units supporting the flood response include: 70th Troop Command, Jefferson Barracks; Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 35th Engineer Brigade, Fort Leonard Wood; 175th Military Police Battalion, of Columbia; the 1140th Engineer Battalion, Cape Girardeau; the 1221st Transportation Company, of Dexter, Portageville and Sikeston; 1140th Forward Support Company, Cape Girardeau; the 1138th Military Police Company, of West Plains and Springfield; the 1138th Engineer Company (Sapper), of Farmington and Fredericktown; the 1175th Military Police Company, of St. Clair and St. Louis; the 3175th Military Police Company, Warrenton; the 1139th Military Police Company, Harrisonville; the 880th Engineer Haul Team, Perryville; the 220th Engineer Company, Festus; the 1438th Engineer Company, of Macon and Kirksville; 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment of Jefferson City; 7th Civil Support Team, Jefferson City; Missouri Wing Civil Air Patrol and the Joint Operations Center at Joint Force Headquarters in Jefferson City.

Missouri's Soldiers and Airmen will continue working in support of local authorities until released by the governor.

For continuing updates on the response, visit www.moguard.com and our social media sites: www.facebook.com/Missouri.National.Guard; www.twitter.com/Missouri_NG; www.youtube.com/MoNationalGuard; www.myspace.com/missouri_ng; www.flickr.com/photos/missouriguard; www.blog.moguard.com

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New Soldier gets first taste of the military on flood mission:
http://moguard.com/new-soldier/index.ph ... 509-112426

"Rising Tide" SED photos available at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/missourigu ... 453111729/

The videos are available on the Missouri National Guard's YouTube page:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqAmqv0wnBE

and the Missouri National Guard's Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1663177504739

Citizen-Soldiers of the 220th Engineer Company transport high capacity water pumps from their previous location in Caruthersville to St. John's Bayou in New Madrid, May 9. Here, they will serve a greater purpose relieving pressure in the bayou, resulting in an elimination of possible damage to communities and roads in the area. (Photo by Jasmine Walthall/Missouri National Guard)

Members of the 220th Engineer Company of the Missouri Army National Guard assist in unloading pumps to be placed by flooding in St. John's Bayou in New Madrid, May 9. Here, they will serve a greater purpose relieving pressure in the bayou, resulting in an elimination of possible damage to communities and roads in the area. (Photo by Jasmine Walthall/Missouri National Guard)