Seabee Efforts Mitigate Rita Flooding
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050926-05
Release Date: 9/26/2005 3:20:00 PM
By Yeoman 2nd Class Donna Lou Morgan, JFMCC Public Affairs
NEW ORLEANS (NNS) -- Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 40 were called into action Sept. 24 when Plaquemine Parish managers reported the rising level of water caused by Hurricane Rita was threatening the integrity of the Jesuit Bend levee.
Working alongside Plaquemine Parish residents and the Air National Guard, Seabees filled and placed sandbags at the base of the levee break caused by Hurricane Katrina. The 150-foot long sandbag wall was completed in time to beat the high tide, protecting the community from any further damage caused by flooding.
“As the line of sandbags grew on the levee, first reports of the water level were being returned,” explained Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Adams, NMCB 40 Operations Officer. “The large push of water against the levee was slowing and began to recede. Reports came back from other sections of the levee miles away where the water was also subsiding.”
“It was an impressive display of teamwork between at least 100 highly motivated Seabees and several members of the local parish,” said Capt. Kelly Schmader, Joint Forces Maritime Component Commander (JFMCC) Logistics Engineer. “The Seabees were mass producing sandbags and dump truck loads of fill material for the local folks to place on the emergency levee.”
NMCB 40 is one of ten Seabee units in the Gulf Coast region assisting in Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. The main focus of Seabee work in local communities has been building temporary housing, repairing roofs on schools and community centers, as well as clearing debris.
“We are proud to work alongside the fine people of this parish to see them through this trying time, providing support and comfort wherever we can,” said Adams.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
