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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 1, 2008 No. 08 - 090 KANSAS NATIONAL GUARD HEADS TO GULF COAST TO ASSIST STATES WITH HURRICANE
RESPONSE Approximately 600 Kansas National Guard members are heading to the Gulf
Coast in response to Hurricane Gustav. The units are scheduled to leave
September 2 and 3. "Our state and National Guard is ready and willing to support Louisiana,
Mississippi and Texas as they deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav
and Hanna," said Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. "Just as Kansas has received assistance from so many states in the
past, we are pleased to be able to help our Gulf Coast states in whatever
way we can," said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Kansas adjutant general
and Director of Kansas Division of Emergency Management. The 35th Infantry Division at Ft. Leavenworth will send 150 people to
Camp Beauregard near Alexandria, La. to provide command and control (force
coordination). An advance team of 12 individuals will leave Sept. 1 at
6 p.m., another 30 troops will leave Ft. Leavenworth Sept. 2 at 12 p.m.
in a military convoy, with the remainder of the unit leaving Sept. 3 from
Ft. Leavenworth at 8 a.m. The 35th ID will provide coordination of the
domestic response operations carried out by National Guard troops from
around the U.S. The 169th Corp Support Sustainment Battalion (CSSB) in Olathe will send
100 people to England Air Park near Alexandria, La. These troops will
run the Receiving, Staging, Onward Integration (RSOI) area which receives
units, stages and prepares them for their mission, and clears them to
proceed. The 169 CSSB will leave Olathe at 8 a.m. Sept. 2. Security will be provided by the 2-137th Infantry Division, Kansas City,
Kan. with approximately 350 people who will leave September 2 and 3. These
troops will also go to England Air Park. They will provide security as
needed including to shelters, and will provide high water search and rescue
and commodities distribution. The 108th Aviation Battalion in Topeka is preparing, if needed, to provide
two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and crew for air support. Over the weekend, the Kansas National Guard sent one person to Texas
to Camp Mabury, Austin, to provide system administration support, and
four Liaison Officers to England Air Park (Alexandria, La.) to provide
coordination of the arrival of Kansas Guard units. In addition, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management sent five individuals
to Mississippi Friday and Saturday to provide support in the state Emergency
Operations Center. Additional requests are possible and future updates will be provided
as missions are added or changes are made. -30- |
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