Vienna Church Provides Housing for Illinois National Guard Troops During Flood

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Cots line the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna where Soldiers have been temporarily staying while they provide relief operations across southern Illinois towns.

VIENNA, IL (05/05/2011)(readMedia)-- Walking into the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna, the dimly lit building is temporarily home to Illinois National Guard troops providing flood relief to residents in Vienna and Metropolis.

Cots are lined up uniformly and there is little sound throughout the building, ensuring Soldiers are able to rest for the missions ahead.

Illinois National Guardsmen from 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment (2nd Bn. 130th Inf. Regt.) in Marion, continue to work night and day to fill sandbags for residents of the two communities, in an effort to protect homes and businesses affected by flooding.

A series of storms have battered several southern Illinois counties and prompted the activation of approximately 450 National Guardsmen. Evacuations took place in towns and cities near the Ohio River after water reached dangerously high levels, even breaching some levees.

Servicemembers have been staying at the church to establish and maintain a strategic emergency response team in close proximity to areas hardest hit by the flood.

Cots, showers and snacks are made available to servicemembers lodging at the church, after they complete their 12-hour to 15-hour shifts in the field, said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Ogden of Ashmore, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the 2nd Bn., 130th Inf. Regt., the operational command of the Vienna-based Soldiers.

"Our mission is to protect lives, to save critical infrastructure and to support local officials and (Illinois Emergency Management Agency)," said Ogden. "I've got a collection of forces that have sandbagged major levees and two major boils in Cairo."

Ogden stressed the importance of the Illinois National Guard and praised his Soldiers.

"The unique thing about the National Guard Soldier is that they support war operations and state operations," he said.

"My Soldiers are responsible and self-motivated; they are tired, but they understand their role in the National Guard and they willingly accept it."

Jim Haney, a church deacon and Johnson County Emergency Services and Disaster Coordinator from Vienna, hoped to make Soldiers as comfortable as possible.

Haney said the church decided to become disaster-ready three years ago. They provide support for disaster victims, having acquired emergency supplies, generators, and shelter for those affected in Johnson County.

"The church has opened the door and allowed the Guard staff to take a look at its facilities, to ensure they were adequate for their needs," he said. "There has been an overflow of assistance by the church for any of the comfort needs of the Soldiers - snacks have been arriving all day and night."

Haney hailed the unit's leadership, claiming their efforts have been excellent.

"The communication has been wonderful," Haney said. "The Guard has been wonderful to work with."

photo 1) U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Garibay, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs/ Cots line the Fellowship Baptist Church in Vienna where Soldiers have been temporarily staying while they provide relief operations across southern Illinois towns. Soldiers have been staying at the church to establish and maintain a strategic emergency response team in close proximity to areas hardest hit by the flood.