1140th activated to help with recovery

About 230 National Guard troops from Southeast Missouri were activated Thursday before heading north to help the St. Louis region begin cleaning up from the powerful storm that knocked downed trees and power lines Wednesday night and left thousands without power.

The troops of the 1140th Engineer Battalion -- already on active-duty status for their two-week annual training -- will be in the St. Louis area for about five days, according to Guard spokeswoman Capt. Tamara Spicer. The 1140th is based in Cape Girardeau.

"It could be shorter than that," Spicer said from her Jefferson City office. "Or it could be longer. They're going to be there as long as they're needed."

The soldiers were expected to set up camp in Festus, said local Guard spokesman Spc. Mitchell Kester. They were expected to be in Festus late Thursday evening.

Since troops were already in training mode, their response time is much quicker, Kester said. When they were activated for Hurricane Katrina, more time was required to get the soldiers to the armory and packed to go.

"We were already here, and all we have to do is get in the car and go," he said. "With Katrina, it was 24 hours before we could move."

Kester said the work will include getting people out of homes that are without power.

"It feels like it's 115 degrees out there," he said. "There are children and senior citizens without power. I'm sure part of our job will be identifying those folks and getting them to some sort of shelter."

Soldiers will be following the direction of local authorities, doing jobs that the city desperately needs help with, Spicer said, such as removing debris, damage assessments and helping identifying vulnerable citizens, such as children and seniors.

The 1140th was selected because members were already on annual training, Spicer said. Their employers were already expecting them to be away from home for another week or so, she said.

The 1140th has experience in helping clean up disaster areas. The battalion was activated to go to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. Spicer said that experience wasn't a factor in the 1140th's selection but will no doubt come in handy.

"The leaders and soldiers will put to use the lessons they learned there," she said.

Spicer wasn't sure what the 1140th's duties would be. They could range from removing trees from streets to going to nursing homes and child-care centers to make sure those without power are being adequately provided for.

"They're prepared to do whatever is asked of them," she said. "Everyone in your community already knows that the 1140th is ready to do what is asked of them. They're about readiness."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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