Missouri National Guard liaison officers monitor key areas before flood

Staff Sgts. Derick Moudy and Steve Pankau, both from B Battery, 1/129 Field Artillery, Maryville, update their map in the Holt County Emergency Operations Center in Oregon, Mo. during preparations for potential flooding along the Missouri River. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Craig L. Collins)

By Sgt.1st Class Craig L. Collins
Ngmo.pao@US.ARMY.MIL

MARYVILLE, Mo. - As northwest Missouri braces for possible flooding, two Missouri National Guard liaison officers are working with local authorities to identify potential problem areas that require extra attention.

The liaison officer program is critical to an effective National Guard response, said Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner, adjutant general.

"In the Guard, we say we're always ready, always there," Danner said. "Those aren't just words. Our liaison officers are a part of the communities they serve during emergencies. They know the counties they're working with and the individual local personalities they'll be supporting well before an emergency. We don't have to spend time during a potential crisis building trust between the county and the Guard because, thanks to our liaison officers, that trust is already there."

Recently Staff Sgts. Derick Moudy and Steve Pankau, both of B Battery, 1/129th Field Artillery, Missouri Army National Guard were activated for state emergency duty in the role of liaison officers for Holt County. After meeting with Holt County authorities they drove out to several areas identified as key sites to evaluate what the water was doing in those areas.

"It's neat to be working hand in hand with the county and just to be able to help Missourians," said Moudy

They found a couple of roads they had previously driven on while they were dry now have water over them. One road in particular could not be determined to be safe to drive on so they had to find a different way out to a key site.

They compared photos previously taken of the sites to the current conditions to help assess variables such as water level and ground saturation.

"It's a growth experience working with the community," said Pankau. "Figuring out how all of the different entities work together and how we can assist them is great," he added.

After completing their evaluation of Holt County they reported their findings to the Holt County authorities and their supervisor for possible further action.

Both Guardsmen said that they are able to be successful in their military careers because their civilian employers - Walsworth Publishing in Marcelline and Crossroads Correctional Facility in Cameron - are strong supporters of their service.

Pankau has been a Missouri Guard member for 16 years and has worked as a case classification assistant at Crossroads for 13 years.

"They have been great to work for and very understanding of my military duties," said Pankau. "I deployed to Afghanistan for a year, went to help out during Hurricane Katrina, went on state emergency duty during the blizzard in January and now this duty. They have always been supportive."

Liaison officers provide a conduit for coordination between the Missouri National Guard and local civil and law authorities. They are, in essence, the eyes and ears of the local commander in helping determine how best the Missouri National Guard can assist local communities with their requests for assistance.

Moudy has been with Walsworth for five years.

"In the five years I have been with them, I have only been at work for about 18 months," said Moudy.

In November 2006, his unit trained for four months before deploying to Iraq for a year. He went back to work after the deployment and six months later deployed to Fort Lewis, Wash., as an operation warrior trainer for two years, training military members on skills they will need to execute missions while deployed in combat zones overseas. Moudy returned from Fort Lewis in September 2010 and his employer granted him all of his vacation time as though he had never missed a day of work.

Pankau and Moudy found out June 5 they would need to report for duty the next day instead of later in the week as previously planned. Both called their employers and received the same response: we support your service.

They are making daily trips to the Holt County Court House building in Oregon, Mo. during their current state emergency duty. On a recent trip they coordinated their map to reflect the Holt County emergency operations center's map and reviewed a list of specific priorities with Holt County Clerk Kathy Kunkel, Presiding Commissioner Mark Sitherwood and 2nd District Commissioner Don Holstine.

They also worked the coordination process for a visit by Gov. Jay Nixon and the leaders of the flood response, including Missouri National Guard adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Stephen L. Danner.

Moudy, Pankau, and all the Soldiers and Airmen mobilized for both the northwest flood response and the Joplin recovery efforts will remain on duty until released by civil authorities.

For more information about the Missouri National Guard, please call 1-800-GoGuard or visit www.moguard.com.