Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
September 16, 2008
By Mike Barber, P-I Reporter
Five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 28 members of the Washington National Guard are in Texas to assist with Hurricane Ike recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, as of Monday afternoon, more than 100 American Red Cross volunteers and staffers statewide are responding, including 60 from the Seattle-area chapter who also helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, local Red Cross spokeswoman Stephanie Schoo said Monday.
Ten of the state's Guard members now in Texas were previously in Louisiana, also providing assistance after Gustav, said Lt. Keith Kosik, state National Guard spokesman. They operate communications equipment sent with them.
"They were in Louisiana supporting the Gustav response and, as Ike came through, they transitioned to Texas," Kosik said.
The other 18 Guard members are aviators and crew members.
Kosik said Monday morning that he had not yet received word of what missions the group might fly and where. At last word, they were based in Austin. The length of their mission depends upon the amount of help required, he said.
Three other state Guard members sent to serve with Northern Command, which has headquarters in Colorado, helped respond during Gustav and will remain to help after Ike.
The Guard troops are sent as part of the nation's Emergency Management Assistance Compact, essentially a mutual-aid agreement among states. Washington will be reimbursed for costs and expenses under the compact.
Washington this year already helped in California, where a Chinook helicopter and crew were deployed to fly fire-suppression missions fighting wildfires, while carrying out several smaller assistance missions within Washington.
"It's a pretty robust domestic response," Kosik said.
If Washington ever suffers a disaster, "we can count on other states to help us," he said. "Our motto is 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors,' and this happens to be a creed that transcends state lines."
In 2005, at least 600 Washington National Guard members helped with Gulf Coast relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, Kosik said.
September 16, 2008
By Mike Barber, P-I Reporter
Five UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and 28 members of the Washington National Guard are in Texas to assist with Hurricane Ike recovery efforts.
Meanwhile, as of Monday afternoon, more than 100 American Red Cross volunteers and staffers statewide are responding, including 60 from the Seattle-area chapter who also helped in the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav, local Red Cross spokeswoman Stephanie Schoo said Monday.
Ten of the state's Guard members now in Texas were previously in Louisiana, also providing assistance after Gustav, said Lt. Keith Kosik, state National Guard spokesman. They operate communications equipment sent with them.
"They were in Louisiana supporting the Gustav response and, as Ike came through, they transitioned to Texas," Kosik said.
The other 18 Guard members are aviators and crew members.
Kosik said Monday morning that he had not yet received word of what missions the group might fly and where. At last word, they were based in Austin. The length of their mission depends upon the amount of help required, he said.
Three other state Guard members sent to serve with Northern Command, which has headquarters in Colorado, helped respond during Gustav and will remain to help after Ike.
The Guard troops are sent as part of the nation's Emergency Management Assistance Compact, essentially a mutual-aid agreement among states. Washington will be reimbursed for costs and expenses under the compact.
Washington this year already helped in California, where a Chinook helicopter and crew were deployed to fly fire-suppression missions fighting wildfires, while carrying out several smaller assistance missions within Washington.
"It's a pretty robust domestic response," Kosik said.
If Washington ever suffers a disaster, "we can count on other states to help us," he said. "Our motto is 'Neighbors Helping Neighbors,' and this happens to be a creed that transcends state lines."
In 2005, at least 600 Washington National Guard members helped with Gulf Coast relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina, Kosik said.