LA District, California Army National Guard to conduct flood-fighting demonstration Oct. 8 at Whittier Narrows Dam

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District
Published Oct. 5, 2020
Updated: Oct. 2, 2020
A U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter flown by a crew from the California National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility #1 at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos

U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter flown by a crew from the California National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility #1 at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, prepares to place super sand bag filled at Whittier Narrows Dam Sept. 23. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District’s Emergency Management branch is conducting a Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies training exercise in Oct. 8. The exercise will involve picking up a sling loaded super sand bag and placing it in a notional breach of a Whittier Narrows Dam levee. USACE photo by Brooks O. Hubbard IV

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District and the California National Guard are partnering to conduct a Super Sand Bag Placement functional exercise at the Whittier Narrows Dam in Montebello, California. The exercise will include the use of a U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter flown by a crew with the California National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1, based in Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, California. The California National Guard will conduct a sling-load operation that will place sandbags into a simulated breach of the levee system at Whittier Narrows Dam to demonstrate the joint flood-fighting capabilities of the Corps of the California National Guard.

Following the exercise, the commander and other state and federal partners will take questions from members of the media.

“This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate our flood-fighting capabilities with our state and local emergency response teams,” said Col. Julie Balten, commander of the Corps’ Los Angeles District.

WHEN: 10 to 11:30 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 8

WHERE: Whittier Narrows Dam and reservoir, California

WHY: The purpose of the exercise is to demonstrate joint flood-fighting capabilities between the Corps, the California Army National Guard and other regional partners that may be used during a real-world flood event.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District responds to flooding events throughout the District’s area of responsibility, which encompasses more than 260,000 square miles and includes Southern California, Arizona and portions of Nevada and Utah. The Corps is the primary authority for flood-response activities and flood-fighting authorities under Public Law 84-99. The Flood Control and Coastal Emergency Program provides annual funding for the district to conduct exercises that will ensure the Los Angeles District is fully prepared to respond to real-world flood events.

WHO: U.S. Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District, California Army National Guard, Congressional representatives from the counties surrounding Whittier Narrows Dam, and regional partners from Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

FOR THE MEDIA: The availability is by invitation only and will be conducted at a field location. Media wishing to cover the event can contact the Corps’ LA District Public Affairs Office at 213-452-3717 or 213-452-3925 by noon Oct. 7. Media should provide contact information, including an email address and phone number in the event the schedule changes and provide the number of news team members who will attend and identify any special needs or requests.


Contact
Brooks O. Hubbard IV
213-452-3717
213-309-3070 (cell)
brooks.o.hubbard@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Public Affairs
or
Dena O'Dell
213-452-3925
dena.m.O'dell@usace.army.mil
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Los Angeles District Public Affairs

Release no. 20-034