Four teams of Arkansas National Guardsmen conducted “waterway” missions in the damaged areas of Rogers, Ark., May 31, 2024, searching for debris that could block the drainage and create a flooding problem as more storms approach northwest Arkansas.
Sgt. Aaron Coker and Cpl. Austin Hamilton, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, walked the drainage ditches and waterways along Dixieland road, mapping the location of debris and whether the objects could be removed by hand or needed heavy equipment to remove it.
Both Coker and Hamilton live in northwest Arkansas, and like many of the Soldiers on the state active duty mission here, were in the storm’s path last Saturday.
“I like volunteering for state active duty missions because it gives us the opportunity to go out to help and support our community,” said Hamilton. “It shows the community what the Guard is really about.”
