Baton Rouge, La. -The Iowa National Guard is sending 245 guardsmen to Louisiana to help in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, expected to hit the coast today.
Lt. Col. Gregory Hapgood, Guard spokesman, said the units are from Camp Dodge in Johnston, Sheldon, Davenport and Sioux City. They include a Chinook helicopter from Davenport, a 180-member transportation company from Sheldon and a 50-member company from the 185th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion based at the Camp Dodge headquarters.
Hapgood said Louisiana asked for the support under an agreement among the various state National Guard operations in which they help each other respond to disasters.
The CH-47 Chinook helicopter from Davenport, capable of lifting 20,000 pounds, arrived by midday Sunday, with the 185th Air Refueling Wing from Sioux City supporting the mission. The 2168th Transportation Company out of Sheldon left Sunday and was expected to arrive today. Davenport's Company B, 2nd Battalion, 211th General Support Aviation Battalion is involved with the Chinook operations. The Camp Dodge unit is on the way.
The Iowa units will help with evacuations and supply transportation and general recovery support, Hapgood said.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal noted Iowa's support at a news conference Sunday in Baton Rouge. He said the Guard, hospitals and agencies from a number of states had offered help.
Troy Price, spokesman for Gov. Chet Culver, said he was unsure whether Iowa would invite evacuees to the state, as it did during Hurricane Katrina, or offer medical assistance.
Jindal said other Midwestern states, including Indiana, Missouri and Nebraska, have sent crews or equipment to help in Louisiana's first simultaneous evacuation of both the southeast and southwest sections of the endangered coastline.
With his state facing its own hurricane challenges, Texas Gov. Rick Perry sent six C-130 aircraft to help with medical evacuations, Jindal said. Mississippi promised assistance, if the hurricane spares that state major damage.
Texas teamed with the federal government to arrange flights every half- hour to move patients, some of whom were going to Little Rock, Ark.; Oklahoma City; Dallas; and Albuquerque, N.M.
Missouri sent a battalion, Jindal said. Nebraska is sending at least one helicopter. California is sending 100 swift-water rescue units.
At a noon news conference, Jindal said the National Hurricane Center was still predicting massive tidal surges, heavy rainfall and flooding. Preparations were made earlier and were broader than those made before Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans three years ago.
With tropical rains and high winds predicted to hit the coast overnight, Jindal said some 200,000 New Orleans-area residents had evacuated.
With Gustav expected to hit shore at either a strong Category 3 or a borderline Category 4 strength, Jindal pleaded with those still on the coast to evacuate.
Curfews went into effect in many communities, and all 64 parishes in Louisiana, similar to counties, have declared emergencies.
