National Guard Helping Freeborn and Mower Counties
St Paul - The Minnesota Army National Guard continues to assist Freeborn and Mower counties in manning traffic control sites as a result of this week’s storm that knocked down power lines and poles.
As of Saturday morning, 143 soldiers who are headquartered in Austin were involved in the effort. At last report, there were at 18 traffic control points in Freeborn County and four traffic control points in Mower County. The Guard also opened armories in Albert Lea and Owatonna Thursday for stranded motorists. It’s unknown how many sought shelter at the armories.
Meanwhile, Gov. Walz Friday night activated another Guard unit to assist a town in northwest Minnesota that is facing flooding problems. The Guard says 35 soldiers headquartered in Moorhead have been assigned to work with the Marshall County Sheriff and Oslo Fire Department in support operations in the town of Oslo.
The Guard says this latest activation marked the fourth State of Emergency for the Minnesota Army National Guard this year.