SLS 22RS-2489 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 121
BY SENATORS MILLIGAN, BOUDREAUX, CATHEY, FOIL, REESE AND TARVER
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the Louisiana National Guard on its exemplary service
to the state of Louisiana during the last two years of unprecedented natural disasters.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the Louisiana National Guard on its exemplary service to the state of
3 Louisiana during the last two years of unprecedented natural disasters.
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard has performed commendable work and
5 displayed tremendous dedication through its efforts to protect the lives and welfare of
6 Louisianians; and
7 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard fulfills its federal and state missions in
8 concert with a wide variety of statewide organizations; and
9 WHEREAS, by air, by land, and by water, the Louisiana National Guard bravely
10 carries out its duties in any emergency with the core principles of discipline and teamwork;
11 and
12 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard has supported the response to the
13 pandemic since the first known case of COVID-19 in March of 2020; and
14 WHEREAS, due to the efforts of the Louisiana National Guard, more than four
15 hundred ninety-seven thousand individuals were tested at twenty-three testing sites
16 statewide, over two million food boxes were distributed, over sixty-one million items of
17 personal protective equipment (PPE) were delivered, and one hundred ninety-one thousand
18 two hundred ninety-eight vaccines were administered; and
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SLS 22RS-2489 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, throughout five waves of the COVID-19 pandemic, the soldiers and
2 airmen of the Louisiana National Guard have developed specialized skills to better prepare
3 for future pandemics; and
4 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard disaster response to COVID-19 supported
5 missions including food and water distribution, transportation, communication, public
6 works, engineering, emergency management, mass care, emergency assistance, logistics
7 management, COVID-19 testing, public safety, security, traffic control, generators, power
8 supply, and food bank operations; and
9 WHEREAS, Hurricane Laura came ashore in south Louisiana August 27, 2020, as
10 a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph, causing catastrophic flooding and
11 damage; and
12 WHEREAS, more than six thousand Louisiana National Guard members were
13 deployed, using two hundred thirty-six high water vehicles, seventy-six boats, and seventeen
14 helicopters to support hurricane rescue efforts, in addition to over a dozen engineering teams
15 trained to help move debris and clear roads; and
16 WHEREAS, Guardsmen helped evacuate more than three hundred fifty-eight people
17 and twenty-nine pets from the affected areas; and
18 WHEREAS, after Hurricane Laura, Guardsmen distributed over five million
19 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs), seven million liters of water, one million bags of ice, and two
20 hundred thousand tarps to victims of the storm; and
21 WHEREAS, Hurricane Ida came ashore in south Louisiana August 29, 2021, as a
22 Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph and heavy rainfall, causing devastating
23 flooding and damage; and
24 WHEREAS, approximately nine thousand Louisiana National Guard members were
25 deployed, conducting search and rescue sweeps across thirty-one parishes and rescuing three
26 hundred ninety-seven people and sixty-five pets; and
27 WHEREAS, Guardsmen cleared over four hundred miles of roads that were clogged
28 with debris; and
29 WHEREAS, after Hurricane Ida, Guardsmen distributed almost seven million MREs,
30 eight million liters of water, and over one million bags of ice, three hundred thousand tarps,
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SLS 22RS-2489 ORIGINAL
1 and four hundred generators; and
2 WHEREAS, over one thousand Guardsmen helped clear roads and handled logistical
3 support in response to the winter storm in 2021; and
4 WHEREAS, using engineering teams, the Louisiana National Guard assessed two
5 hundred twenty-three miles of road while clearing one hundred forty-seven miles of snow
6 and debris from roads; and
7 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard also provided seven wreckers to help
8 Louisiana State Police and state transportation officials clear Interstate 20, moving two
9 hundred sixty disabled commercial vehicles; and
10 WHEREAS, Guardsmen distributed over three million liters of water and two million
11 gallons of bulk water to people in parishes affected by the storm and provided fourteen
12 generators to assist with water systems; and
13 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard responded to flooding throughout the
14 state following multiple days of steady rain beginning in May of 2021; and
15 WHEREAS, at the height of the response, three hundred ninety-three Guardsmen
16 were activated to support various missions, including search and rescue, engineering, and
17 aerial reconnaissance; and
18 WHEREAS, using as many as seventy-nine high-water vehicles and nineteen boats,
19 Guardsmen rescued twenty-five people and two pets in Lake Charles; and
20 WHEREAS, engineering teams worked with local and state officials to determine the
21 specific needs of communities to combat rising flood waters and installed Tiger Dams to
22 mitigate flooding; and
23 WHEREAS, during the last two years, the Louisiana National Guard has confronted
24 a demanding series of natural disasters; and
25 WHEREAS, Guardsmen have also deployed to other states and overseas in response
26 to the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies; and
27 WHEREAS, the tireless professionalism of our soldiers and airmen in supporting the
28 state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastation of hurricanes Laura and Ida, and
29 multiple storms in 2021 merits a special measure of commendation for the men and women
30 of the Louisiana National Guard; and
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SLS 22RS-2489 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, the Louisiana National Guard continues to live up to its promise of
2 "Always Ready, Always There".
3 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
4 does hereby commend the Louisiana National Guard on its exemplary service to the state of
5 Louisiana during the last two years of unprecedented natural disasters.
6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
7 Major General Keith Waddell of the Louisiana National Guard.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Curry Lann.
DIGEST
SR 121 Original 2022 Regular Session Milligan
Commends the Louisiana National Guard on its exemplary service to the state of Louisiana
during the last two years of unprecedented natural disasters.
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