Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Maryland Army Guard Soldiers train with Baltimore County firefighters to prepare for hurricane and flood season By Capt. Rick Breitenfeldt
                Maryland National Guard
 BALTIMORE, Md. - Hurricane season doesn't officially start until June 1, but the Maryland National Guard and the Baltimore County Fire Department aren't waiting until then to get acquainted. On May 17, a small detachment of Maryland Guard Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment (Security & Support) in Edgewood, Md., with two, high clearance five-ton trucks and a Humvee traveled to Baltimore County Fire Department's (BCFD) station #17 to rehearse and train with the counties swift water and flood rescue teams. The fire department and the Maryland Guard recently recommitted to working together and formalized their relationship with a memorandum of agreement, which lays out the guidelines, terms and conditions for providing assistance during inland water, open water and swift water flood emergencies in Baltimore County. "This is a pioneer thing that is going on," said Fire Captain Robert D. Murray of Station #17. "This has never happened in Baltimore county or the state of Maryland." Murray, who welcomed the Guard to his station, said he was excited about the memorandum. "I want to make sure that you understand that we really want to make this thing work," said Murray. "This is not just a flash in the pan. If we have to go hot, you're coming, and it's going to happen." In recent years, hurricanes, tropical storms and heavy rains have inundated Maryland residents with extensive flooding. The 2003 Atlantic hurricane season was one of the most destructive in the state's history as rainfall peaked at seven inches when Hurricane Isabel hit almost every county in Maryland. In the days leading up to and following the hurricane, more than 600 Maryland Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen answered the state's call by providing security, doing house-to-house inspections and establishing check points. Murray said he remembers Isabel well and made a pledge to the Soldiers and firefighters attending the training to learn from that experience. [The BCFD] struggled during Isabel, according to Murray, as his firefighters worked 24-hour operations and quickly ran out of food and fresh water because everything was contaminated. "I swear to God I will never let that happen again," said Murray. "We need the Guard and this is a joint effort." Firefighter Mike J. Berna, who coordinates swift water and flood rescue operations for Baltimore County, said training together with the Maryland Guard before an actual flood emergency is critical. "When the two resources don't work well together, things go south real quick," said Berna. "The rub and the problems come when your [the Guard's] resources show up to meet our resources and nobody knows what to expect or what to do." Berna said the BCFD will rely heavily on the Guard's high clearance vehicles, but they must be specifically assigned to a detailed mission. "What we want to avoid is having National Guard high clearance vehicles deployed to flood disasters with little to no training and unclear mission orders," said Berna. "We can't afford to have failed rescue attempts, or these vehicles being stranded in the flood zone themselves and in need of rescue." If a major flood or hurricane occurred today, Berna said the Guard's equipment would be critical to saving lives. "We are now going to be able to get around to parts of our flooded county better because you have high clearance vehicles and we don't," said Berna. Berna said his teams could have used more National Guard support and high clearance vehicles during Isabel. "When we get into the flood zone like we experienced in Isabel, the flood was two miles away," said Berna. "We had to drag our boats half way because the water wasn't deep enough and we couldn't engage the motor. We were really burning up a lot of valuable time." Sgt. George C. Payer, a Maryland Guardsmen, who participated in the day-long training event said he was glad to get the opportunity to train with the BCFD. "You need to do these things," said Payer, adding that even the basic stuff like loading boats from a trailer to a truck and taking them back off is important. "We're all in this together because we are all performing some kind of community service and we will have to work together," said Payer. "This is what being in the Guard is all about."
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Conduct Expert Exchange
 By Joseph Siemandel,
  Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park
 By Lt. Col. Darrin Haas,
  Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match
 By Master Sgt. Charles Johnston,
  More
 Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park Guard News • 4 hours ago
 Champions Repeat at NH National Guard Marksmanship Match Guard News • yesterday
 West Virginia Air National Guard Wing Conducts ’Super Drill’ Guard News • yesterday
 Idaho Medical Airmen Train in Field to Boost Readiness Guard News • yesterday
 Alaska Air National Guard rescues 6 plane crash victims Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (189)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil