Guard counterdrug units aid hurricane rescue effort

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Cheryl Hackley
  • National Guard Bureau Public Affairs
NEW ORLEANS (AFPN) --  Guardsmen from several state counterdrug programs are here using their specialized equipment for recovery mission support after the devastating attack from Hurricane Katrina.

Using Light Armored Vehicles, also known as LAVs, counterdrug Airmen and Soldiers have rescued more than 150 victims from their homes, as of Sept. 6.

LAVs are useful because they can reach areas inaccessible by boats and helicopters, said Army Lt. Col. Thomas Brewer, commander of Task Force CD LAV.

“It is amphibious, has eight-wheel drive and it has the necessary power. We are operating (in more than) 4 feet of water,” Colonel Brewer said.

The task force has dedicated seven of its 11 vehicles for hurricane relief efforts. Twenty-one National Guard Airmen and Soldiers are using LAVs from Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon and Tennessee.

The daytime LAV missions are conducted by four crew members, including a commander, driver, security guard and a New Orleans police officer to navigate and guide them through the streets and to provide security.

They are patrolling the city looking for survivors, Colonel Brewer said. They are at ground zero and have covered about 10 percent of the city, primarily the French Quarter, but he said they are moving to residential areas.

LAVs are designed to hold 10 people in the back, but rescue missions have squeezed as many as 10 victims inside and 10 more on top, in addition to the crew.

Operations begin at 6 a.m., and the crews run missions until dusk or until the LAVs run out of fuel. They forge through water and over fences, and pull right up to houses to let people jump aboard. They take them to dry land where they are received by more Guardsmen and provided medical attention. This mission is repeated relentlessly throughout the day, Colonel Brewer said.

Task Force CD LAV is housed with the 20th Special Forces unit. Working together, they are sharing tools, parts and pieces to keep the LAVs operational.

“Let’s cross our fingers the LAVs stay that way,” Colonel Brewer said.

Right now they are focusing on search-and-rescue missions, but have been providing support to SWAT teams when necessary, Colonel Brewer said. Before Katrina, the National Guard Counterdrug Program has used LAVs since 2002 to support state, local and federal law enforcement agencies in serving warrants on counterdrug operations, recovering downed officers, and functioning as communications, command and control platforms.

Despite running several days on little sleep and eating Meals Ready to Eat, the crews maintain a high morale because they know they are making a difference.

“When you rescue (people) who have been stranded on their rooftop and they are hugging you, you can’t help but feel pumped about that,” Colonel Brewer said.