Louisiana National Guardsmen continued to assist state and parish officials with building levees and providing traffic security as the Morganza Spillway was opened to relieve pressure from the swollen Mississippi River in southeast Louisiana, May 14.

Louisiana Guardsmen have been preparing an improved levee that will total approximately 10,000 linear feet of sand-filled HESCO baskets and “super bags” in Krotz Springs.

Liaison officer for the project, Sgt. 1st Class Lloydd Martin of the 756th Area Support Medical Company in Carville, says the goal is to build a solid wall to provide a secondary barrier for more than 240 homes, a power substation and refinery.

“When it comes to this response, it’s a Soldier mission … a Guard mission,” said Martin regarding the support to citizens and local authorities.

The support from the community has been a huge asset in accomplishing the mission, said Martin.

“They have really gone out of their way to be courteous to us, all the while protecting our homes,” said Jannette Ellis, a resident of the community. “I can’t say thank you enough to these guys.”

The Guard’s military police also assisted State Police with traffic control points before and during the opening of the Morganza Spillway to ensure citizens were safe and informed of the event.

Spc. Seth Henderson, a member of the 239th Military Police Company in Carville, said their security mission is to assist not only the local authorities, but the citizens as well, with directions and providing information.

“Being able to help out people I know, people from my community … it’s why I joined the National Guard,” said Henderson, a native of St. Francisville.

“The Louisiana National Guard has been very instrumental in the past few days preparing this area with levee inspections, barrier construction and traffic control,” said Nancy Allen of the
Corps of Engineers. “We are just grateful for all the help.”