Virginia And Coast Guard Sending Resources To Help In Ike Aftermath

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Norfolk Virginian-Pilot
September 13, 2008
By Lauren King, The Virginian-Pilot
Two U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crews and 21 Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries conservation officers headed south Friday in advance of Hurricane Ike's landfall along the Gulf Coast.
Locally based U.S. Navy ships - the Nassau, Ponce and Bataan - were also prepared to assist relief efforts. At least one ship was under way to the region.
The two MH-60 Jayhawk rescue helicopter crews from the Elizabeth City Coast Guard base will help with humanitarian aid missions and search and rescue operations in the hurricane's aftermath, according to a Coast Guard news release.
Also, about 10 employees from the Norfolk District of the Army Corps of Engineers have been dispatched to Texas. The employees are part of a specialized team designed to coordinate the purchase and distribution of water and ice.
Gov. Timothy M. Kaine activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact on Friday to authorize deployment of the Virginia officers to Jennings, La., to provide maritime law enforcement support, according to a news release from the governor's office.
All officers volunteered for the assignment, and the remaining conservation police officers will cover the volunteers' work areas while they are gone.
They are expected to be in Louisiana until Sept. 22.
Many Virginia state agencies, localities and organizations identified and prepared resources that could be deployed to respond to additional requests.
Pilot writer Louis Hansen contributed to this report.
 
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