• Monday-What'sUP September 8 - 10:10 am

Saturday afternoon found the Portage Lake Canal busy with Emergency Preparedness drills, held by the Houghton Keweenaw County Emergency Measures personnel and the Michigan National Guard 1437th Engineering Company based in Sault Ste. Marie.

The exercise was conducted so that the area would be prepared should the Portage Lake Lift Bridge become inoperable. The National Guardsmen assembled their "Improved Ribbon Bridge" at the Coast Guard Station in Dollar Bay. From there they floated it to the Isle Royale National Park Headquarters dock and landing in Houghton, where emergency vehicles, personnel and supplies were loading onto the floating bridge and transported over to the Houghton County Marina in Hancock.
Jack Dueweke, Houghton Keweenaw Counties Emergency Measures Manager, was quoted in the local paper as saying that this exercise was to familiarize the National Guard members of the 1437th with the area and to have measures in place for an emergency involving the Lift Bridge not operating. Dueweke said these National Guard members are professionals who have experience with this portable bridge, even deploying it in the Middle East.

Dueweke also said there are plans for 2015 to conduct another emergency drill exercise that will span the canal, rather than just transporting vehicles, personnel and supplies across.

Sure is nice to know that measures are in place to protect all of us that live on the north side of the bridge. Thanks to all the folks involved in the planning and carrying out of these exercises.

Thanks also to Jon Hopper, the original Pasty Camist, for snapping today's photos during the event on Saturday.

God bless the National Guard for all they do!

Thanks, Jon, for sharing your photos.

I echo what Shirley said!! Thanks for sharing that!

Quite the operation!

Good to know the National Guard has our backs! God Bless them!

Thank you for today's pictures! I was wondering how they did it. My youngest son, who goes to Tech, is an Emergency Medical Responder, soon to be an EMT, so I have been curious how they would accomplish that. Thank you, Jon Hopper! My son's name is Jon, too. :-)

Amazingly, as we were on our way to Eagle River on Saturday,
September 6th, with a group of family and friends, we witnessed
this event. I am so glad that Jon Hopper captured it. Thank you.