The Louisiana and Texas National Guard are prepared to assist first responders as Hurricane Laura approaches landfall.
More than 3,000 members of the Louisiana National Guard are ready to provide support by land, water and air, strategically positioning 222 high water vehicles and 65 boats from southeastern Louisiana to southwestern Louisiana to provide search and rescue support. The Guard also has 19 Army aircraft prepared to assist.
In addition, 10 National Guard engineer assessment teams and seven engineer work teams are staged and ready to respond. Members of the 843rd Engineer Co. are working around the clock to assist local and state agencies in Grand Isle.
The Texas Guard currently has more than 1,000 members activated for Hurricane response with more than 20 aviation assets to include UH-60, CH-47, C-130 airframes standing by. More than 15 shelter teams with emergency tracking capabilities are moving to receive those in need and the Texas Guard has mobilized 117 high profile vehicles to support rescue efforts in high risk areas. Texas is prepared to operate in a COVID-19 environment by utilizing 160 personnel assigned to mobile testing teams to support interagency hurricane response as needed.
Additionally, C-130 crews have been busy moving supplies to areas of Southeast Texas in anticipation of the hurricane and the recovery efforts to follow. Presently the LANG has 921,000 liters of water and 528,000 military rations, or meals ready to eat, strategically stockpiled to support Louisianans.
Hurricane Laura is expected to hit the Texas-Louisiana coast as a Category 4 hurricane Wednesday night or early Thursday, with the potential for catastrophic damage.
For information regarding this press release, please send an email to the NGB Media Operations desk at ng.ncr.ngb-arng.mesg.ngb-media-desk-owner@mail.mil.