Ohio National Guard News

Soldiers answer second call to assist city of Portsmouth amid rising flood waters

Story by Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Photos by Capt. Jordyn Sadowski, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs

Soldiers of the 1191st Engineer Company erect a floodgate Feb. 23, 2018, in Portsmouth, Ohio. The 1191st erected four floodgates at breaks in the city’s floodwall along the Ohio River, a precautionary measure in response to rising flood waters on the river.

Soldiers with the 1191st Engineer Company emplace a second row of boards on a floodgate.

PORTSMOUTH, Ohio — For the second time in a week, the Ohio National Guard activated Soldiers from the 1191st Engineering Company to support the city of Portsmouth by raising additional floodgates as flooding continued.

About 40 Soldiers with the 1191st, based in Portsmouth, were called to state active duty to respond to rising waters that threatened the local community, where several Soldiers live and work. Working alongside the Scioto County Emergency Management Agency and the Portsmouth Flood Defense Division, the Citizen-Soldiers erected two additional floodgates along the Ohio River.

The 1191st was first activated Feb. 18-Feb. 20, to build two floodgates at the city’s lowest elevation where the need was most immediate.

The 1191st is a horizontal engineering company, capable of operating heavy construction equipment to move tons of earth and material in order to complete construction projects, including the construction of roads and airfields, placing culverts, hauling construction materials and providing force protection.