An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | July 11, 2019

La. National Guard mobilizes up to 3,000 troops for storm

By Stephen Marshall National Guard Bureau

BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Glenn H. Curtis, said Thursday the state's National Guard is mobilizing to assist civilian emergency personnel and residents as Tropical Storm Barry bears down.

Tropical Storm Barry is expected to make landfall Friday or early Saturday as a hurricane with relatively weak winds but torrential rain, forecasters said.

Gov. John Bel Edwards declared an emergency and urged residents in the storm's path to begin evacuations as soon as possible.

"We are taking a very proactive and aggressive approach in our preparations for the storm," Curtis said. Many of the 3,000 Guard members authorized by the governor have already reported, the general said, and they are assisting with levee operations, evacuations and moving water and commodities where they may be needed.

To help better assist coordination efforts at the local level, the LANG has liaison officer teams in Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Terrebonne and Vermillion parishes.

Once the storm comes ashore, the Guard's No. 1 mission will be search and rescue, Curtis said.

"There are three ways Louisiana floods, the governor said, "storm surge, high river, and rain. We're going to have all three."

In addition to high-water vehicles and boats staged in over 20 communities across the state in possible affected areas, the LANG has helicopters ready to support search and rescue, evacuation and recon missions as needed.

The LANG is also moving and staging additional assets to the New Orleans area in order to provide a quick response as needed. Large quantities of drinking water, blankets and sandbags have been moved, delivered or positioned by the Guard to areas for distribution following the storm.

Sgt. 1st Class Denis Ricou of the Louisiana National Guard contributed to this report

 

 

Related Articles
Cara Loken, Reserve component transition assistance adviser for the Nebraska National Guard and spouse of John Loken, commander of the 155th Maintenance Group, has been named the 2024 Air Force Association Air National Guard Spouse of the Year. The award recognizes the contributions of spouses of Air Force personnel across Active Duty, Guard and Reserve components.
Nebraska Woman is Air National Guard Spouse of the Year
By Senior Master Sgt. Shannon Nielsen, | Feb. 14, 2025
LINCOLN, Neb. - Cara Loken, reserve component transition assistance adviser for the Nebraska National Guard, has been named the 2024 Air Force Association Air National Guard Spouse of the Year.This prestigious Air Force...

The 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, marks the arrival of its new helicopter, a U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II, Jan. 31, 2025, at Moffett Air National Guard Base near Mountain View, California. The wing is from HH-60G Pave Hawk model helicopters.
California Air Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing Upgrading Aircraft
By Senior Airman Serena Smith, | Feb. 14, 2025
MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif.- The U.S. Air Force 129th Rescue Wing is replacing the HH-60G Pave Hawk with six newer HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters.The first two helicopters arrived this month and the wing plans...

The seven-Soldier team representing the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theatre Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, participates in the Voice Intercept Challenge during the seventh annual Best Linguist Competition Feb. 6, 2025, in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Washington National Guard won the  2024 300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) Command Language Program of the Year Award.
Washington Guard Linguists Excel at Best Linguist Competition
By Staff Sgt. Kelly Wiebe, | Feb. 14, 2025
SALT LAKE CITY - Seven Soldiers with the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion (Linguist), 56th Theatre Information Operations Group, Washington National Guard, competed in the seventh annual Best Linguist Competition Feb...