FLOOD NEWS: Guard’s Quick Response Force Called Out for Vehicle Recove

FLOOD NEWS: Guard’s Quick Response Force Called Out for Vehicle Recovery

By SSGT Amy Wieser Willson, North Dakota National Guard / Published March 26, 2010

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Spc. Jeremy Kasperson sits in the rear of a North Dakota National Guard truck as he gives directions for backing out of a washed out road March 25 in rural Cass County. The truck is towing a stranded automobile from the washed out roadway. Cass County Tactical Operations Center liaison officer Capt. Grant Larson, of the 119th Maintenance Squadron, North Dakota Air National Guard, can be seen giving guidance from the cab of the truck. Kasperson is a member of the 815th Engineer Company’s North Dakota National Guard quick response force (QRF) team that is being called to the scene by the Cass County Sherriff’s Department to assist with the vehicle recovery. The driver of the vehicle was able to get clear of the car and make his way through the freezing water to safety before help arrived. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) (Released)

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Sgt. Preston Steele attaches a towing chain to a partially submerged vehicle March 25 on a washed out portion of a gravel road a few miles west of Harwood, N.D., as Spc. Jeremy Kasperson gives directions from the rear for backing the truck. Steele and Kasperson are both in the 815th Engineer Company’s North Dakota National Guard quick response force (QRF) team that is being called to the scene by the Cass County Sherriff’s Department to assist with the vehicle recovery. The driver of the vehicle was able to get clear of the car and make his way through the freezing water to safety before help arrived. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) (Released)

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Sgt. Preston Steele and Spc. Jeremy Kasperson, both of the 815th Engineer Company, attach a towing chain to a partially submerged vehicle March 25 on a washed out portion of a gravel road a few miles west of Harwood, N.D. Steele and Kasperson are members of a North Dakota National Guard quick response force (QRF) team that is being called to the scene by the Cass County Sherriff’s Department to assist with the vehicle recovery. The driver of the vehicle was able to get clear of the car and make his way through the freezing water to safety before help arrived. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) (Released)

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Staff Sgt. Brent Johnson, of Argusville, N.D., who serves with the North Dakota National Guard’s 815th Engineer Company quick response force (QRF) team, visits with Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney as they arrive on the scene of a stranded automobile in a washed out section of rural roadway March 25, west of Harwood, N.D. The recovery of the car from the washout is cooperative effort between members of the North Dakota National Guard and the Cass County Sherriff’s Office operating out of a tactical operations center in West Fargo, N.D. The recovery was carried out by N.D. National Guard members of a quick response force (QRF) team staging out of the Harwood, N.D., Community Center. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp) (Released)

HARWOOD, N.D. -- After going a few days without an emergency call, the North Dakota National Guard's quick reaction force team in Harwood, N.D., responded to a request this afternoon. The Cass County Sheriff's Department asked for assistance with a vehicle recovery mission.

"This is a perfect example of the partnership we have with the Guard," said Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney. "We respond together. We deal with these events together. I can't say enough about the Guard. They have a major part in our partnership here as we prove over and over again -- this is how we take care of our people in North Dakota, and we do it as a team."

A man driving a few miles west of Harwood became partially submerged on a washed out portion of a gravel road. The driver was able to get out of the car and made his way through the freezing water to safety before the quick reaction force arrived.

Once on scene, Sgt. Preston L. Steele, of Fargo, and Spc. Jeremy Kasperson, of Fargo, attached a chain to the partially submerged car and, with the help of their team, freed it from the washout. Both Steele and Kasperson serve with the North Dakota Army National Guard's 815th Engineer Company, which is based in Wishek, N.D.

They're part of a group of 19 Guardsmen who split duties at the Harwood site, with half working 24 hours before switching out with the other half of the group. By day, they respond to calls that come in to the Emergency Operations Center from local agencies and residents. At night, they patrol the dikes in Harwood so that residents can rest. Townspeople monitor the dikes themselves during daylight hours.

A similar situation plays out in Kindred, where another Guard quick reaction force team is situated. Improving conditions in these areas of Cass County mean the Guard will likely be able to end these missions by early next week.

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