About two dozen members of the Nebraska Army National

About two dozen members of the Nebraska Army National Guard and Nebraska Task Force One, Urban Search and Rescue conducted structural extraction training, May 23, 2019, at the Camp Ashland Training Site in Nebraska. The training incorporated flight and hoist rescue methods using Army National Guard helicopter crews who supported rescue personnel from civilian partner agencies. The purpose of this training was to simulate conditions both crews encountered during March of this year, when historic flooding swept across the state. Camp Ashland buildings – damaged by the floods when 5-10 feet of river water rushed into the military camp, and now slated for future demolition – were used to simulate residences for the training. A rescue team was first lowered onto the roof of one building by a UH-72 Lakota helicopter. The Task Force One first responders then used a chainsaw to cut a hole in the roof to gain access to the interior. Once inside, they located and secured the victim, and then hoisted him safely into the helicopter. For the second task, a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter hovered over a building surrounded by trees and near powerlines to extract a victim from an open second-story window. The first responder was lowered from the helicopter near the window, and was expected to reach the window, pull himself inside and then secure the victim for extraction. This task was repeated twice for affect. This was a unique training experience for both the Nebraska National Guard aviators and Nebraska Task Force One crew members. Both teams anticipate the joint training to become standard practice. (Nebraska National Guard photo by Spc. Lisa Crawford)