Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Washington Post
May 8, 2007
Pg. B6
Gov. Martin O'Malley voiced concerns yesterday about the toll that deployment of National Guard troops and equipment to Iraq is taking on Maryland's readiness to deal with in-state emergencies.
"It's a big problem, and it's a serious problem," O'Malley (D) said at a news conference called to announce his nominee to run the state's Veterans Affairs Department, James A. Adkins.
A report prepared by the state for Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) says the Maryland National Guard is facing "critical equipment shortfalls" in such areas as ground vehicles, power generation equipment, helicopters and communications equipment. The shortfalls could imperil the Guard's ability to respond to hurricanes and other disasters, the report says.
For example, it says, the Guard would be 76 Humvees short of the 335 needed to adequately respond to a Category II hurricane, "making its response inadequate and putting Maryland citizens' lives in jeopardy."
The report was requested after a severe tornado destroyed a Kansas town Friday night.
-- John Wagner
May 8, 2007
Pg. B6
Gov. Martin O'Malley voiced concerns yesterday about the toll that deployment of National Guard troops and equipment to Iraq is taking on Maryland's readiness to deal with in-state emergencies.
"It's a big problem, and it's a serious problem," O'Malley (D) said at a news conference called to announce his nominee to run the state's Veterans Affairs Department, James A. Adkins.
A report prepared by the state for Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) says the Maryland National Guard is facing "critical equipment shortfalls" in such areas as ground vehicles, power generation equipment, helicopters and communications equipment. The shortfalls could imperil the Guard's ability to respond to hurricanes and other disasters, the report says.
For example, it says, the Guard would be 76 Humvees short of the 335 needed to adequately respond to a Category II hurricane, "making its response inadequate and putting Maryland citizens' lives in jeopardy."
The report was requested after a severe tornado destroyed a Kansas town Friday night.
-- John Wagner