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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 2, 2008 No. 08 - 091 SOME KANSAS NATIONAL GUARDSMEN IN LOUISIANA, OTHERS EN ROUTE Some of the 600 Kansas National Guard members asked to help in the Gulf
Coast in response to Hurricane Gustav have arrived at England Air Park
near Alexandria, La. Members of the 35th Division from Leavenworth arrived
there earlier today, Sept. 2, and are headed to Baton Rouge to support
the Joint Task Force operations of the National Guard. Additional members
of the 35th Division left today and the remaining troops will leave Leavenworth,
Sept. 3, at 8 a.m. The 169th Corp Support Sustainment Battalion (CSSB) in Olathe sent 137
soldiers out about 8 a.m. today, Sept. 2, to England Air Park. The 169th
CSSB will receive units, stage and prepare them for their mission and
then clear them to proceed. This morning the Kansas National Guard's Incident Response Vehicle (IRV)
left Forbes Field about 9 a.m. with six Kansas National Guard members.
The IRV will provide communications support in Louisiana, including satellite
phones, internet and hotspot capabilities, video teleconferencing needs
and additional coordination capacity. Tomorrow at 5 a.m. members of the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry (2-137th)
in Lawrence, Kansas City, Kan., and Wichita will leave for Louisiana from
each of these city's National Guard armories. Several Guardsmen with the
2-137th left for Louisiana from Manhattan earlier today. Other support remains on standby. The 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation in
Topeka is preparing, if needed, to provide two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters
and crew for air support. The 190th Air Refueling Wing has KC-135 stratotankers
available to provide air transport and the mobile hospital known as the
Expeditionary Medical Support System (EMEDs). The EMEDs was used in support
of Greensburg and Hurricane Katrina. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management sent five individuals to
Mississippi to provide support in the State Emergency Operations Center.
However, their mission was canceled and they are now preparing to assist
other areas in anticipation of additional storms. -30- |
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