Deliveries

The Nebraska National Guard worked with state and local officials to distribute food, bottled water, medical supplies and more to affected areas.

Nebraska National Guard Airmen with the 155th Logistics Readiness Squadron in Lincoln delivered 50 pallets – or about 10,000 gallons – of water to Fremont and Omaha, March 26-27, 2019, to residents in need of water safe enough to cook with or to drink.

“I think it’s great,” said Senior Airman Jacob McNeese, a transportation management journeyman with the 155th LRS. “I think it’s awesome to help volunteer and give back and help out everyone with what they need.”

The missions were an opportunity for Airmen from the 155th LRS to put the 40 plus hours of training required to drive a semi-trailer and build pallets into action while helping local Nebraskans.

“This is my first state activation that I was able to help in our community as a National Guard member,” said Master Sgt. Brian Welch, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of ground transportation mission. “We train to help emergency (managers and locals) all the time, but this is the first time we were actually able to deploy that training.”

Pallets of water head to Omaha and Fremont, March 26, 2019, as part of the relief efforts following a historic flood in Nebraska. The Nebraska Air National Guard delivered eight pallets to Omaha and two were delivered to Fremont that day. (Nebraska National Guard photos by Senior Airman Jamie Titus)

Each day consisted of loading the pallets, driving to each location, unloading the water, driving back and then fueling and inspecting each vehicle. Disaster relief and recovery is just one part of the Nebraska Air National Guard’s mission. Because of their high operational tempo in 2018-2019, meaning hundreds of Airmen were deploying regularly overseas for months at a time – the Nebraska Air National Guard did not have as many Airmen available to support state missions as the Nebraska Army National Guard. This meant the Airmen of the 155th LRS who were able to respond were even more proud to represent the Air National Guard through service to support their neighbors in need.

“Being able to help the local community was huge, and being able to give back to the people is much more rewarding,” Welch said.

Convoy Brings Hope, Morale and Essentials

The largest transport of flood-related relief items occurred on March 17, when the Nebraska National Guard joined with the Department of Transportation, Nebraska State Patrol and Hy-Vee to deliver eight truckloads of food donated by Hy-Vee, and two fuel tankers to support three shelters in the isolated town of Fremont. To access Fremont, which had essentially become an island after floodwaters closed all roads surrounding the town, the Nebraska Department of Transportation used snowplows to push enough mud around to create a central access road open only for official vehicles. Nebraska National Guard Soldiers joined the convoy, driving Light Medium Tactical Vehicles, carrying pallets of food and water, as well as medical supplies for the Fremont Health Medical Center.

Sgt. 1st Class Kyle Schramm, a maintenance section sergeant, 195th Forward Support Company, Omaha, drives a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle as part of a convoy headed to Fremont, Nebraska, March 17, 2019. The convoy delivered needed food and water to the citizens of Fremont. (Nebraska National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Natasha Hilsgen)

The Nebraska National Guard would help deliver 109 pallets of water, 11 pallets of medical supplies and many other essentials to community members in need during the month-long flood response. The Guard also provided transportation of first responders and essential personnel to affected areas.