National Guard Assists in Storm-Battered New York

American Forces Press Service ^ | Sgt. Sara Wood, USA

[SandRat]

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15, 2007 – About 100 troops from the New York Army National Guard are assisting in snow removal in upstate New York, where winter storms have left more than 10 feet of snow in some areas over the past two weeks.

Soldiers of the New York National Guard's 827th Engineer Company wait aboard trucks in Syracuse, N.Y., for a convoy to begin during Feb. 14, 2007. More than 100 New York National Guard troops are helping remove snow in Oswego and Onondaga counties. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Peter K. Towse, USA  '(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Gov. Eliot Spitzer activated elements of the New York Army National Guard Feb. 13 to assist in the massive snow removal operations in Oswego County and other missions as needed in advance of a major winter storm that was forecast to last through yesterday. Lake-effect snow already had buried the area in a series of storms that began Feb. 2.

Most of the roads in the area are clear today, and the National Guard troops are focusing on removing large deposits of snow from key areas, such as municipal buildings, fire departments and hospitals, Army Lt. Col. Paul Fanning, state public affairs officer, said.

The task force has bucket loaders, dump trucks, Humvees and other support vehicles for the mission, he said.

"While the county and local highway departments and the State Department of Transportation have done an outstanding job keeping the roads open and clear in Oswego County, they will need additional help in combating the additional snow forecast over the next 24 to 36 hours," Spitzer said in a news release Feb. 13. "The New York Army National Guard will be a tremendous resource as the state deals with the affects of the storm.”

On Feb. 8, the governor declared a state disaster emergency for Oswego County and contiguous areas that have been battered by lake-effect snows. As part of his executive order, the governor directed the implementation of the state disaster preparedness plan and ordered state agencies to provide all assistance possible to local governments there.

Related Sites:
New York National Guard

Related Articles:
New York Guard Prepares to Respond to Upstate Snow Emergency

Soldiers of the New York National Guard's 827th Engineer Company prepare a front-end loader for snow removal in Mexico, N.Y., Feb. 14, 2007. Sgt. 1st Class Peter K. Towse, USA   Download screen-resolution    Download high-resolution

[SandRat]

NY National Guard Comes to Help!

[metmom]

ping

[metmom]

They need it, too. There's no knowing just what snow can be like until you live with feet of it for weeks at a time. It is so fatiguing.

[Enterprise]

Pelosi and Murtha immediately announced opposition to the National Guard surge in New York.

[alpha-8-25-02]

thanks for the thread brother,as you can see we need the help!

[lysie]

Lake Effect to Nor'easter and now back to Lake Effect. It's drifting terrribly, too.

[SandRat]

I know! Grew Up in the Detroit Area.

[Cementjungle]

Pelosi and Murtha immediately announced opposition to the National Guard surge in New York.

I thought we had no National Guard left because they're all over in Iraq fighting Bush's "illegal war"!

[Convert]

Pelosi and Murtha immediately announced opposition to the National Guard surge in New York.

I thought we had no National Guard left because they're all over in Iraq fighting Bush's "illegal war"! Yeah - who's paying for all this

I support the troops, but not the mission.

[Cementjungle]

I support the troops, but not the mission.

How exactly does that work?

[andyandval]

Thank God for the National Guard!

I can only imagine what you guys in Buffalo and Oswego are experiencing.

We got 32" in my town (Glens Falls).

[Convert]

Pelosi and Murtha immediately announced opposition to the National Guard surge in New York.

I thought we had no National Guard left because they're all over in Iraq fighting Bush's "illegal war"! Yeah - who's paying for all this

I support the troops, but not the mission.

How exactly does that work?

ie: the mission in ny

Comment to demostrate how stupid the antiwar movement in Congress is

[YoungSoutherner]

That is so much snow, I was born and raised in the deep south and doubt I will ever experience that much snow. All you can really do is stay in the house, keep warm, and drink some hot chocolate. I hope you guys stay safe and warm.

[andyandval]

Thanks for the warm thoughts.

What we really do is shovel the stuff off the driveway and go to work. :)

[Alberta's Child]

"Snowed in" ping.

[tioga]

Our roads in the southern tier looked like this for 24 hours, thank God it stopped and the roads got cleared. Prayers for those still suffering.