Barksdale Airmen support community, visa versa

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeff Walston
  • 917th Public Affairs Office
BARKSDALE AFB, La. --  Hundreds of Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base, La., joined Soldiers from the 527th Engineers of the Louisiana National Guard, local officials and the local community October 31 in working around the clock to place sand bags on a levee in northern Bossier Parish to keep the waters of the Red Chute Bayou out of neighborhoods.

Due to heavy rains in the area, water in the Red Chute Bayou surged more than nine feet above normal levels. Volunteers continued to fill and place them in strategic areas along the levee to keep the rising water from flooding the neighborhoods.

In an address to the house Monday, November 2, 2009, Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), publicly expressed his thanks to the Airmen of Barksdale AFB. "Enlisteds, officers and even generals worked side-by-side in an effort to make sure that floodwaters did not destroy Bossier Parish."

Representative Fleming said. "I want to extend my sincere gratitude for their dedication and work during this natural disaster; and I want to say that the efforts of these Airmen prove, once again, why the United States military is the greatest assemblage of outstanding men and women in the world."

Although evacuation was only recommended, many in the neighborhood chose to leave. Barksdale lodging was full due to the influx of military personnel choosing to stay on base rather than take the chance of being trapped in their homes. Several 917th Wing families were affected by the flooding and evacuations.

"The area has been downgraded from an "evacuation recommended" to a "flood watch" with no evacuations necessary," said Sergeant Bart Cavanaugh, motorcycle unit, Bossier City Police Department. "We are providing perimeter control - checking identification and limiting the access to the neighborhoods."

Days later the waters crested and started to recede. While there was some flooding to the northern Bossier Parish neighborhood, it was not as bad as it could have been, thanks to the many volunteers who supported the community.