BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base place sandbags on a levee to hold back floodwaters in Bossier City, La. The Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Saturday morning to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

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BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airman 1st Class Megan Bright, from Barksdale Air Force Base's 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, loads sandbags onto a vehicle to be delivered to a levee to hold back floodwaters in Bossier City, La. Barksdale Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Saturday morning to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

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BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base and local community members work together to fill sandbags for a levee to hold back floodwaters in Bossier City, La. The Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Oct. 31 to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

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BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base fill sandbags for a levee to hold back floodwaters in Bossier City, La. The Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Oct. 31 to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

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BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base drive across and inspect a levee under threat of breach in Bossier City, La. The Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Oct. 31 to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Mike Andriacco)

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BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base fill sandbags for a levee to hold back floodwaters in Bossier City, La. The Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Oct. 31 to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Carie Parker)

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BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Airmen from Barksdale Air Force Base fill sandbags for a levee to hold back floodwaters in Bossier City, La. The Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Oct. 31 to reinforce the levee containing Red Chute Bayou. More than 600 Airmen have assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort under immediate response authority. (U.S. Air Force photo/Maj. Carie Parker)

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Airmen assist local authorities with reinforcing levee

Published Oct. 31, 2009
By Maj. Carie A. Parker
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BOSSIER CITY, La. -- Barksdale Air Force Base Airmen, at the request of state and local officials, have been working nonstop since early Oct. 31 to reinforce a levee containing Red Chute Bayou in northern Bossier Parish.

More than 400 Airmen assisted with filling and hauling sandbags in a massive effort, based near Stockwell Road, to contain the rising waters under immediate response authority.

This authority allows installation commanders to provide military support to save lives, prevent human suffering or mitigate significant property damage when local and state authorities are not able to immediately respond to the emergency in the local community. The participation of the military is generally short in duration, lasting only until sufficient local and state assets arrive on the scene and assume control.

"We're working hard with the Corps of Engineers and the Bossier Levee Board to do what we can to keep the water contained," said Col. Steven Basham, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "We'll continue to assist for as long as they need us."

The Air Force has also responded by providing equipment -- to include 13 small all-terrain utility vehicles -- to transport sandbags to affected areas along the bayou.

According to officials, more than a week of heavy rainfall pushed the water nearly 10 feet above flood stage endangering homes in the area, should the levee breach.