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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sept. 11, 2008 No. 08-096 KANSAS PREPARES FOR RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IKE AND CONTINUES TO PROVIDE
RELIEF FOR HURRICANE GUSTAV Kansas is sending more help toward the Gulf Coast in anticipation of
Hurricane Ike. More support is also being sent to Louisiana to respond
to the needs caused by Hurricane Gustav. The 1st Battalion, 108th Aviation and Company C, 1st Battalion, 171st
General Support Aviation Battalion are deploying three UH-60 Black Hawk
helicopters, including one medical helicopter, and approximately 20 soldiers
in support of operations relating to Hurricane Ike. The helicopters and
personnel are prepared to deploy and are currently on standby until weather
conditions permit a safe departure. The 190th Air Refueling Wing has been placed on alert for Hurricane Ike
to be ready to send three KC-135 stratotankers to the Gulf Coast. The
alert means they must be ready to fly within three hours of receiving
mission orders, should the need arise. The Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services is deploying
23 individuals to assist Louisiana with the Federal Disaster Food Stamp
Program. The individuals, who come from SRS offices across the state,
will train in and work out of New Orleans. The SRS personnel will assist
with intake and processing, data entry, quality assurance and quality
control regarding the food stamp program. “Kansans have stepped up to help our neighbors on the Gulf Coast,”
said Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, “but with Hurricane Ike headed that
way, more help will be needed. I’m very proud of the support our
state has offered and will continue to provide. We know first-hand how
far that help goes.” Approximately 600 Kansas National Guard personnel deployed to various
locations in Louisiana to assist local authorities with hurricane response
and recovery operations, including security missions, food and water distribution,
command and control and medical support. The soldiers come from the 35th
Infantry Division; 69th Troop Command; the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry,
the 635th Armor, the 169th Corps Support Sustainment Battalion, 731st
Transportation Company (Palletized Loading System), 137th Transportation
Company (Palletized Loading System). The soldiers from all of these units will begin phased redeployment to
Kansas on Friday, Sept. 12. Soldiers from the 35th Infantry Division will
arrive home at approximately 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Kansas National Guard Incident Response Vehicle deployed to Port
Barre, La., to facilitate communications between emergency response agencies
and civil authorities. It is scheduled to start back to Kansas at approximately
9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 12. Kansas National Guardsmen are also on duty at the Joint Operations Center
in Topeka to provide 24-hour operations support for the soldiers who are
deployed. “This is what the National Guard is all about,” said Maj. Gen.
Tod Bunting, the adjutant general. “It’s citizen-soldiers and
airmen helping people in times of need, even if those people live hundreds
of miles away. This is what they train for; this is what they love to
do.” A 12-person Incident Management Team that deployed in support of Hurricane Gustav left Louisiana this morning to return to Kansas. Although the personnel agreed to stay if needed, Louisiana officials
feared that expected flooding could result in the Kansans being unable
to get out for some time. While in Louisiana, the team performed multiple
tasks and were praised by Louisiana officials for their excellent work. “These Incident Management Teams are a vital part of our emergency
response efforts,” said Bunting. “Their knowledge and experience,
along with their positive ‘can-do’ attitudes, have a huge impact
on the success we have in getting the right kind of help where it’s
needed, when it’s needed.” The personnel on the team came from the Kansas Highway Patrol, local
county emergency management offices, a community college and local fire
and police departments. A five-person Incident Management Team that deployed to Mississippi returned
to Kansas on Sept. 5. Currently, there is a possibility that more IMT personnel may deploy in support of Hurricane Ike. -30- |
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