N. Illinois Squadrons Assist with Flood Mitigation Effort

A view of the intersection before the work began to relieve the flooding.

   

      

2d Lt. Scott McKnight (left) works with 1st Lt. Bob Gould (seated right) in preparing sandbags. Also pictured in the center of the photo with the blue ball cap and blue polo shirt is Congressman Mark Kirk. To his left is 2d Lt. Damon Card as well as a number of US Navy sailors that also volunteered in the effort.   

      

Pictured with Congressman Mark Kirk (center) are Major Bob Dempsey, Deputy Commander, Cadets (left) and Capt. Jim Griggs, Deputy Commander, Seniors, both of the Palwaukee Composite Squadron.

(Photos by 2d Lt. Marc Stanley)

By 2d Lt MARC STANLEY

Public Affairs Officer, Palwaukee Composite Squadron

PROSPECT HEIGHTS, Ill -- At mid-day on Saturday 13 September, the Palwaukee Composite Squadron was contacted by local officials from the Village of Prospect Heights, Illinois regarding flood assistance. The Des Plaines River was at flood stage, and some subdivisions were already being saturated by the quickly rising water. After calls to the National Operations Center (NOC), and the ILWG Director of Operations, a mission number was assigned, and an alert was sent out.

Shortly after the contact by local officials, Palwaukee Squadron personnel started planning for the impending mission, and queried its members for availability. Ninety minutes after the alert was sent out, the first team assembled mustered at the Mission Base located at the Palwaukee Squadron's meeting facility, and was then sent into the flooded area to assist with sandbagging duty.

Working with members of the local fire department, Public Works, Village officials, local residents, as well as sailors from Naval Station Great Lakes that had also volunteered to participate, the CAP teams assisted with the flood mitigation efforts until after midnight. Congressman for the Tenth District of Illinois, Mr. Mark Kirk showed up with staff members to personally assist in the filling of sandbags. Congressman Kirk took the opportunity to shake hands with the many CAP members at the scene, and thank them for their assistance to the local communities. Village officials have indicated CAP will be on its list of 'go to' agencies for future disaster relief (DR) situations.

In all, 28 members from 6 different units responded to the REDCAP. The units represented were: Forest Park Composite Squadron, Lake County Composite Squadron, Lewis Composite Squadron, Midway Composite Squadron, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, and Group 22 HQ.

Members that participated were as follows: Majors Bob Dempsey and Paul Hanna; Captains David Gillingham, Jim Griggs and Brian Pokuta; First Lieutenants Charles Brown, Bob Gould, Mark Halman, Scott Murphy, Jay Trivedi and Axel Velazquez; Second Lieutenants Damon Card, Kenneth Hartogh, Scott McKnight, Marc Stanley, John Stys, and John Trimarco, SM Mike Grenz as well as Cadets Ryan Blasky, Hannah Gottschalk, Clint Greenlee, Zack Hagner, Chris Hartogh, Brett Krueger, Kenneth Macejak, David Miller, Seth Thomas, and Adam Wallace.