Replies to post #87 on Hurricanes, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Disasters

[Burpzilla]

Ind. Guard to help areas hit by Katrina

By Jon Murray
[e-mail]

As many as 2,000 or more Indiana National Guard troops will be part of a contingent from across the country mobilizing to provide relief in areas hit by Hurricane Katrina, an Indiana Guard spokeswoman said this afternoon.

Capt. Lisa Kopczynski said officials were meeting to determine which units would be included in the activation, which would begin later this week. She said orders could go out as soon as tonight or Thursday morning.

"This will be sizeable," Kopczynski said, adding that transportation, medical, logistical and aviation units -- as well as command and control elements -- are in particular need.

Several states are preparing to send National Guard units to Louisiana and Mississippi, both of which suffered devastation along the Gulf Coast.

Indiana's Air National Guard and Army National Guard have about 13,000 members, and over the last four years during the global war on terror, 10,000 have been called to duty for missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas.

News services are reporting that 10,000 additional National Guard troops are being mobilized nationwide, which will bring the number of troops in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida to 21,000.