Louisiana National Guard assisting in flooded areas following Hurricane Isaac

By Army National Guard Sgt. Rashawn Price
Louisiana National Guard

Army Sgt. Lee Savoy, assigned to the Louisiana Army National Guard's 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, assists a child Aug. 30, 2012, onto one of the unit's trucks as Soldiers rescue residents from flood waters caused by Hurricane Isaac. The Louisiana National Guard has more than 8,000 Soldiers and Airmen ready to support local and state authorities in support of Hurricane Isaac relief operations. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Rashawn D. Price)
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CARVILLE, La. (8/31/12) - Members of the Louisiana Army National Guard were a welcome sight to residents of St. John the Baptist Parish, which was flooded after Hurricane Isaac made landfall Aug. 28.

"We've been working for about 15 hours straight rescuing citizens of this parish and their pets," said Army Sgt. Lee Savoy, a cook and supply sergeant for Det. 1, 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

Savoy and other members of the 256th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, were continuing with search and rescue operations in the parish using high-water military vehicles and other resources.

"My unit has helped rescue hundreds from the parish of St. John the Baptist," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Anderson, a communications
security custodian for C Company, 256th BSTB.

For many Guard members, search and rescue operations began once the brunt of the storm moved beyond their operational areas. The Soldiers of the 256th BSTB then used high-water vehicles to drive through flooded neighborhoods to rescue stranded residents from dangerous water.

"The gratitude of the people of this parish has fueled my passion for serving the community,” Savoy said. “It makes it easy to take trip after
trip to save more lives."

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