HAMSHIRE, TX, UNITED STATES

09.05.2017

Story by Sgt. Steve Johnson

100th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

HAMSHIRE, Texas -- Soldiers and airmen from the Texas Military Department joined forces with civilians from the city of Hamshire, for “Operation Hay Drop,” Sept. 05, 2017. The goal of the operation was to feed the region's cattle that had been stranded by Hurricane Harvey related flooding.

The soldiers and airmen, along with CH-47 Chinook helicopters from Texas and Ohio National Guard units, local law enforcement, ranchers and farmers organized the operation as a way to ensure livestock across a five county area were fed. High floodwaters have made reaching the animals by land impossible for over a week. The operation targeted an estimated 10,000 animals across an area of over 50,000 acres.

This mission was a key part of ensuring that once the rescue missions wound down, the long term needs of Texas communities would be addressed. 
“It’s important for the Texas Military Department to use the assets we have on hand to help protect the livelihoods of people who have been impacted by the floods,” said Texas National Guard Maj. Alicia Schweitzer, 71st Troop Command. “This affects people’s lives from today to months down the road, if we don’t protect their livestock; their communities aren’t going to survive in the long run.”

Cattle ranches make up a significant part of the local economy in Hamshire. The benefits of the hay drop by Texas Military Department personnel were greatly appreciated by the residents of the small town that depend on it. 

“The cattle industry in this area is a $25 million dollar a year industry. Losing that type of dollar amount would be a tremendous hardship on the community,” said Tony Viator, a lieutenant with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, who was helping with the operation. 

With much of his jurisdiction still reeling from Hurricane Harvey, Viator was glad to have access to the resources Texas Military Department could bring to the region.

“We have a five-county area that due to the flood waters has approximately 10,000 head of cattle that are trapped on islands, unable to be fed and taken care of by their owners. We asked the Texas Army National Guard for help, and they have done an outstanding job, giving us everything we needed, from pilots, to logistics, ground support, and help loading the aircraft,” said Viator.

Before the operation ended for the day, Texas soldiers and airmen had loaded and air dropped approximately 1000 bales, and residents of Hamshire, like rancher Danny Drawhorn were thankful for the help in the wake of Harvey. 

“I have about 50 head of cattle in my pasture, probably about $100,000 worth of cattle, plus they’ve all got calves with them, “ said Drawhorn. “This part of the country is America's table-top and when we get 42 inches of rain like we did, it’s virtually impossible to get hay back there. This air-drop has just been tremendous for us. “

TX, UNITED STATES

09.05.2017

Video by Pfc. Joseph E Cannon

55th Combat Camera

U.S. Soldiers, 1-124th Cavalry Squadron, walk through the streets checking on the those affected by Hurricane Harvey, Orange, Texas, Sept. 6, 2017. Police and U.S. Soldiers work together with the focus of helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey. (U.S. Army video by Pfc. Joseph Cannon)

BEAUMONT, TX, UNITED STATES

09.05.2017

Video by Sgt. Samuel De Leon

Texas Army National Guard (Texas Military Forces)

Governor Greg Abbott met with Beaumont City officials and helped hand out food to residents at Ozen high school in Beaumont.

ORANGE, TX, UNITED STATES

09.04.2017

Video by Pfc. Joseph E Cannon

55th Combat Camera

U.S. Soldiers, 1-124th Cavalry Squadron, walk through the streets checking on the those affected by Hurricane Harvey, Orange, Texas, Sept. 6, 2017. Police and U.S. Soldiers work together with the focus of helping those affected by Hurricane Harvey. (U.S. Army video by Pfc. Joseph Cannon)

HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES

09.04.2017

Video by Senior Airman Renee Crugnale

147th Attack Wing (Texas Air National Guard)

Chaplain Mark Lassitter and Master Sgt. Jeff Boyd at the 147th Attack Wing spent the day visiting residents in the Houston area to support them in their recovery efforts. Homeowners are living in homes that are gutted and many have lost their possessions in the flood.

BEAUMONT, TX, UNITED STATES

09.04.2017

Video by Sgt. Daisy Broker

72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (36th ID, TXARNG)

Service Member’s from the Texas Army and Air National Guard set up a Medical Treatment Facility or MTF in the parking lot of the Baptist Hospital of Southeast Texas, in Beaumont.

The hospital began transferring patients when the cities water supply was cut off. As a result,
hospital staff coordinated with Texas Emergency Services to bring in the Role 2 Medical Treatment Facility provided by Texas Military Forces. 

The MTF was able to treat well over 200 civilians from Beaumont and surrounding areas. Patients recieved services such as general first aid, prescription medications, ultrasounds, and X-ray capabilities. 

The hospital and Texas military forces brought care to the citizens of Beaumont when they needed it most.

TX, UNITED STATES

09.04.2017

Video by Staff Sgt. Rion Ehrman

Air Force Public Affairs Agency

A Chemical Emergency Response Force Package comprised of Texas Air National Guard Airmen with the 149th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio, and Texas National Guard Soldiers, Fort Worth, with the 949th Brigade Support Battalion combined to set up this field hospital in the parking lot of the Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Beaumont as the hospital was only taking medical emergencies due to damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Harvey formed in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in southeastern Texas, bringing record flooding and destruction to the region. U.S. military assets supported FEMA as well as state and local authorities in rescue and relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force Video by SSgt Rion Ehrman)

PORT ARTHUR, TX, UNITED STATES

09.03.2017

Video by Spc. Austin Boucher

55th Combat Camera

U.S. Army Spc. Sergio Villarreal, 1-143 Infantry Regiment, Airborne Battalion, discuesses medical operations in Port Arthur, Texas, Sept. 3, 2017. Both the U.S. Military and civilian volunteers are working together to assist those affected by Hurricane Harvey. (U.S. Army video by Spc. Austin T. Boucher)

TX, UNITED STATES

09.03.2017

Video by Staff Sgt. Rion Ehrman

Air Force Public Affairs Agency

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 551st Multi-Role Bridge Company, El Campo, Texas, search flooded Beaumont, Texas neighborhoods, Sept. 3, 2017, for civilians after Hurricane Harvey. Hurricane Harvey formed in the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall in southeastern Texas, bringing record flooding and destruction to the region. U.S. military assets supported FEMA as well as state and local authorities in rescue and relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force video by SSgt Rion Ehrman)

KATY, TX, UNITED STATES

09.03.2017

Story by Sgt. Jazmin Jenkins

22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

KATY, Texas - Six forklifts manned by Texas Army National Guardsmen line up outside of a hangar at a small airport just outside of Houston awaiting the next semi-truck filled with supplies to offload. Although most of the forklift operators are not logisticians by trade, they are combining skills earned working for the military and in the civilian sector to accomplish the mission. 

First Lieutenant Tim Dubose, an intelligence officer with 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, volunteered to manage a shipping and receiving site for distributing supplies based on his 10-years of civilian experience as a project manager. 

The mission of Dubose’s Austin-based unit is to support Texas Army National Guard disaster recovery operations by getting Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) supplies to distribution points using helicopters.

Dubose said that no mission within the specialty for which the military trained him existed for hurricane relief operations. However, the leadership skills taught to all Army officers, paired with his civilian credentials, made his selection for a leadership position at a logistics hub in the recovery efforts a natural one.

"I was selected to be in an (officer in charge) position,” said Dubose. “When I arrived at Houston Executive Airport, there was a need for logistical problem set." 

He used the project management skills required in his civilian job experience to synergize a team of Soldiers sent from around the United States to efficiently deliver supplies at the FEMA distribution site established at the airport. 

One of the people working for Dubose is Pfc. Matthew Riffe, a generator mechanic with 36th CAB, based out of Austin, Texas. Like Dubose, the 22-year old is using a combination of skills learned in the military and in his civilian job to ensure mission success. Riffe works in logistics shipping and receiving coordinator in his civilian occupation and has six years of forklift experience. 

"I volunteered to man the forklift because they were short-handed and I have the experience and skillset to contribute to the mission," said Riffe.

FEMA brings life sustaining supplies to be distributed by the military to the Houston Executive Airport for Hurricane Harvey victims. Soldiers with 36th CAB off-load and inventory those supplies. Afterwards the supplies are palletized and organized to fit inside the dimensions of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter. 

Dubose said one of the most important skills he’s using from his civilian job is proper communication between teammates and managing resources effectively. Additionally, his experience in acquisitions aligns with the mission at the distribution site. 

"Flight operations identifies specific supplies to go on the necessary aircraft by customer demand," said Dubose. "We fill that order by loading the supplies in the aircraft, then make sure we track and inventory afterwards." 

The FEMA distribution site at Houston Executive Airport is one of the major hubs re-supplying areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. The site has delivered an average of 25 tons of supplies per day since operations began on Aug. 31. 

Thousands of people along the U.S. Gulf Coast were affected by Hurricane Harvey. The efforts to relieve those in need involves Soldiers and necessary skills to accomplish the mission.

“This is an important mission to be a part of,” said Dubose. “We have all come together and used all of our skills to get the job done."