Engineers activated for Montecito storm response
Soldiers reroute water flow in same area where deadly mudslide struck in 2018
by Sgt. 1st Class Whitney Hughes
National Guard Bureau Public Affairs
Feb. 6, 2023
ARLINGTON, Va. – As most of the nation eased into the first post-holiday work week of the new year, the Cal Guard sprang into action to respond to devastating flooding in northern California.
On Jan. 3, directed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Cal Guard activated the first wave of Guard members to support flood response efforts.
At the height of the flood response mission, which lasted until Jan. 24, about 550 Guard members assisted authorities in Mono, Sacramento and Santa Barbara counties. They provided HH-60 Sikorsky and CH-47 helicopters and 32 high-water vehicles for potential rescues, clearing debris and other missions.
One of the units activated was the 649th Engineer Company. Their initial mission was high-water rescue, but it quickly changed to employing their engineering skills, said U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Ken Ly, a platoon leader with the company.
“We were activated to help the Santa Barbara County, and diverted the water and helped remove debris and prevent mudslides,” said Lt. Col Donald Lipscomb, the commander of Task Force 185, part of Cal Guard's flood response team. “[Guard members] worked nonstop since they hit the ground. I am proud of every single member of this company.”
The basin the engineers were working in is the same area where a deadly mudflow killed 23 people in 2018.
Spc. Ryley Sine, a member of the California community previously affected by flooding, said the mission took on a greater purpose.
“I have been impacted by these storms,” said Sine. “I feel prideful being able to help these communities, just knowing that they will be safer later on down the line in case it happens again.”
The Guard members diverted water and worked 24-hour operations to move more than 15,000 cubic pounds of debris in just nine days.
“Seeing my Soldiers out there operating heavy equipment, putting in maximum effort, and doing exactly what they’re trained to do, it’s really rewarding for me, and I’m sure it’s rewarding for them as well,” Ly said.
One of the Soldiers, Sgt. Jessica Andres, agreed.
“This is really what I joined the Guard for,” Andres said. “My intent was that if things got bad, I wanted to be qualified and able to go help, and that’s exactly what happened here.”
Officers from the California Army National Guard’s Task Force 185 and 649th Engineer Company stand on an overlook and talk with local officials about their work to reroute water flow from the San Ysidro Creek inside the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13, in Montecito, as part of the state’s storm response. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
Officers from the California Army National Guard’s Task Force 185 and 649th Engineer Company stand on an overlook and talk with local officials about their work to reroute water flow from the San Ysidro Creek inside the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13, in Montecito, as part of the state’s storm response. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
Soldiers from the Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company use heavy equipment to reroute water flow from the San Ysidro Creek inside the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13, in Montecito. The engineers are supporting the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
Soldiers from the Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company use heavy equipment to reroute water flow from the San Ysidro Creek inside the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13, in Montecito. The engineers are supporting the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
A memorial for Rebecca Riskin is seen above the Randall Road Debris Basin as Soldiers from Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company work to reroute water flow in the basin from the San Ysidro Creek as part of the state’s storm response. The basin area had multiple homes on it when a mudslide hit Jan. 9, 2018 killing Riskin and 22 others. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
A memorial for Rebecca Riskin is seen above the Randall Road Debris Basin as Soldiers from Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company work to reroute water flow in the basin from the San Ysidro Creek as part of the state’s storm response. The basin area had multiple homes on it when a mudslide hit Jan. 9, 2018 killing Riskin and 22 others. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
U.S. Army Pfc. Levi Walkup of Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company, 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, talks to a lieutenant from across the San Ysidro Creek. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
U.S. Army Pfc. Levi Walkup of Cal Guard’s 649th Engineer Company, 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, talks to a lieutenant from across the San Ysidro Creek. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donald Lipscomb, commander of the California Army National Guard’s 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, talks to his command team at the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Donald Lipscomb, commander of the California Army National Guard’s 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, talks to his command team at the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
U.S. Army Pfc. Levi Walkup of the California Army National Guard’s 649th Engineer Company, 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, operates an excavator to reroute part of the San Ysidro Creek inside the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
U.S. Army Pfc. Levi Walkup of the California Army National Guard’s 649th Engineer Company, 185th Military Police Battalion, 49th Military Police Brigade, operates an excavator to reroute part of the San Ysidro Creek inside the Randall Road Debris Basin, Jan. 13. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Crystal Housman)
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