Press Release
☷North Dakota National Guard UH 60 Black Hawk Helicopters Fight Missouri River Ice Jams
U.S. Army ( By Press Release office)
Mar 03,2024
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The North Dakota National Guard took action to address an ice jam on the Missouri River in Bismarck on February 29 , 2024 . Two UH - 60 Blackhawk helicopters were deployed to drop 660 gallons of water multiple times to break up the ice . The river reached a peak of 15 . 43 feet , but thanks to the efforts , it dropped to 13 . 49 feet by the end of the day , below minor flood stage . The previous day , a significant ice jam led to the river rising above minor flooding levels , surpassing 14 feet . The flooding reached about 5 feet and affected the low - lying areas along the shoreline . Governor Doug Burgum took action by declaring an emergency for Burleigh and Morton counties , activating the North Dakota State Emergency Operations Plan . All state agencies , including the NDNG , were instructed to stay prepared and provide the necessary flood response resources . Maj . Gen . Al Dohrmann , NDNG adjutant general , acknowledged the hard work of the team members who ensured a successful assessment . This accreditation demonstrates the collaborative mindset of our state partners , as we all work together to respond effectively and save lives and property during North Dakotans ' worst days . The NDNG collaborated with state , local , and federal officials , such as the Governor ' s Office , Department of Emergency Services , Department of Water Resources , Department of Environmental Quality , Department of Transportation , National Weather Service , Army Corps of Engineers , Burleigh and Morton counties , to coordinate a response to the ice jam flooding . Governor Burgum praised the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services for their exceptional leadership and preparedness in handling natural disasters and emergencies . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers committed to reducing flows from Garrison Dam to address the minor flooding caused by the ice jam in the Missouri River in Bismarck - Mandan . State agencies worked closely with local and federal partners to ensure a comprehensive response . By 3 p . m . , two NDNG UH - 60 Black Hawks were activated , each equipped with a Bambi Bucket system capable of holding 660 gallons of river water . They repeatedly dropped 5 , 000 lbs of water onto the ice , dislodging a section measuring 20 by 20 feet on the first pass . Progress was made by 6 p . m . as the ice started moving downstream . Over the course of 4 hours , 118 buckets dropped over 70 , 000 gallons of water . Lt . Col . Matt Voeller , NDNG Director of Domestic Operations , emphasized the collaborative effort in responding promptly to the ice jam , and assured continued monitoring of the situation with the North Dakota National Guard ready to support the state and communities when needed .
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