KDSN RADIO News
Iowa Guard helping with debris removal in flooded areas
Members of the Iowa Air National Guard 185th Refueling Wing and the 132nd Wing have sent equipment and manpower to areas needing help with the removal of flood debris. Iowa Guard spokesperson, Jackie Schmillen, says the Sioux City based 185th is helping in Woodbury, Cherokee, Ida and Buena Vista Counties. While the 132nd based in Des Moines is in the Iowa Great Lakes region.
"Getting chainsaws and trees and skid loaders and just trucks, they need trucks, as well as good people and we have those vehicles and we have to those trained men and women," she says.
Schmillen says guardmembers are in many cases helping their neighbors.
"They also have homes they're part of the community so many of them are at home cleaning up just like everyone else is. So we've been trying to assist our own members and their families just as much as we're trying to help other community members," she says. She says the Iowa Guard is also giving some relief to those who have been on the front lines since the flooding started.
"The emergency workers and county emergency management teams that have been working in these communities literally around the clock," Schmillen says. "So I know we are sending some backup help to Rock Valley because they're just burnt out. They need some time to go to their own homes and do clean up and just rest for a few minutes."
Some 30 members of the Iowa Guard are out helping with the debris clean up.
