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Air Guardsmen called to state active duty for tornado response

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Bob Oldham
  • 189th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  About 15 members of the Arkansas Air National Guard's 189th Security Forces Squadron were called to state active duty Feb. 8 to augment Clinton, Ark., law enforcement officials after a tornado ripped though the town Feb. 5. 

The EF4 tornado, measured on the Enhanced Fujita scale, had winds of 166-200 mph as it tore a 123-mile path through North Central Arkansas. About 50 Arkansas Army and Air National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are helping provide security in Clinton and Van Buren County. 

Clinton Police Chief Tony Parish said he needed extra manpower because he only has nine police officers for a city of about 2,300. With the city covering about 30 square miles, his officers can't be everywhere. 

"They're going to help us secure the areas that were heavily damaged," the chief said. "We're having problems with tourists, people coming through wanting to look, sightseers, looters. We really want to deter looters." 

Only one person died the night of the tornado. He was at the Clinton boat factory, which was destroyed. 

"For the damage we have, it's amazing we only had one (die)," the chief said. 

Two others in Van Buren County died that night because of the storm, too. 

"We've got more damage inside the city than we do in the rest of the county all totaled," Mayor Roger Rorie said. "We got hit hard." 

County deputies are busy patrolling in the county, which is why he felt the need to ask for National Guard support. 

"We were maxed out before the tornado hit as law enforcement, and now we don't have enough," the mayor said. 

"(The Arkansas National Guard) has been a Godsend," the mayor said. "You couldn't be any more thankful ... Without the Guard here, I don't know what we'd do." 

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Christopher McCauley, a 189th Security Forces Squadron patrolman, said Clinton residents have been supportive and appreciative of their security presence on Memory Lane, the hardest hit area of the city.

Residents brought lawn chairs to one of the entry-control point so Guardsmen would have a place to sit and take a break instead of standing through 12-hour shifts. Others have brought food and drinks to show their appreciation. 

A veteran of the active duty Air Force, this is Sergeant McCauley's first call to state active duty. 

"It feels real good to be able to assist your fellow Arkansans when they need you," he said.