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CONTACT: Lt. Col. Richard Goldenberg, 518-786-4581
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008

New York National Guard Hurricane Gustav Continuing Update

Army and Air Guard aircrews, aircraft, join Louisiana Guard response

LATHAM -- Approximately 100 Soldiers and Airmen of the New York National Guard arrived in the Gulf Coast in the past 24 hours and began operations to join the response and recovery effort of the National Guard in support of state emergency operations officials. The New York National Guard forces were mobilized Sunday by New York State Governor David A. Patterson in response to Hurricane Gustav. Deployed elements of the New York Army and Air National Guard are expected to complete their movements and integration with fellow Louisiana National Guard forces to support recovery efforts from the storm's damage. In all, more than 100 members of the New York National Guard and nine aircraft are mobilized to support the response to Hurricane Gustav in the Gulf Coast. Elements of the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing are integrated as part of the Louisiana Air National Guard Task Force Eagle at Meridian Miss. Weather delayed any flight missions on Tuesday, but crews remain available to support potential search and rescue operations. Two HH-60 Special Operations helicopters and one HC-130 long range search and rescue airplane from the New York Air National Guard's 106th Air Rescue Wing based on Long Island are in place. An additional HC-130 aircraft remains on standby at Gabreski Airport at Westhampton Beach for potential follow-on missions. Three CH-47 Chinook helicopters from the New York Army National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester conducted local airspace orientation flights in Huntsville, Ala. yesterday and are integrated with the Louisiana Army National Guard's aviation Task Force Razorback. They will be joined by three additional aircrews and UH-1V (medevac) helicopters from the Rochester facility's medical evacuation detachment expected to arrive in Baton Rouge from a weather delay en route last evening. Approximately 45 Soldiers comprise the Army Aviation element. Medical evacuation personnel from the Air National Guard's 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, part of the 109th Airlift Wing, were released from their alert status today but remain available for recall through the end of the week should missions come up. An additional sixteen communications personnel from the New York Army and Air National Guard were placed on standby for support missions to the Gulf Coast if requested. Senior leaders and staff of the New York National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters in Latham continue to coordinate and monitor activities in the National Guard's joint operations center in anticipation of additional resources needed to support the Gulf Coast or respond to any emerging needs for tropical storms Hanna, Ike or even Josephine. Tropical Depression Gustav was located north-northwest of Texarkana, Ark. earlier today, drifting north-northwest at 3 MPH. The storm will continue to dissipate through Thursday morning. -30-

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© NYS DMNA Press Release:New York National Guard Hurricane Gustav Continuing Update
URL: https://dmna.ny.gov/pressroom/?id=1220471731
3.83.87.94
Page Last Modified: Sep 03, 2008