Posted on 09/02/2005 2:04:22 PM PDT by Racehorse
CAMP MABRY, Austin, Texas (Sept. 1, 2005) – The number of Texas National Guardsmen in Louisiana for hurricane recovery assistance is now approaching the 1,000 mark.
Last night and today, three C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 136th Airlift Wing carried Air National Guard security forces to Naval Air Station Belle Chase near New Orleans. These Airmen, from Air Guard units based in San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth and El Paso, will provide support to civil law enforcement authorities in Louisiana.
Task Force 536, consisting primarily of medical professionals, began convoying toward Louis Armstrong Airport, New Orleans, Wednesday. Besides medical support, this joint Army and Air Guard task force will aid in communications, transportation and distribution. Task Force 536 includes some 50 high-water vehicles, 10 HMMWVs, three wreckers, two fuel trucks and a water purification unit.
An aviation task force was the first Texas contingent to arrive in Louisiana. Eight UH-60 Black Hawks, two CG-47 helicopters and one C-23 fixed-wing aircraft make up the flying element with the necessary trucks and personnel in support. The aircraft will provide the eyes from the air in this vital stage of recovery efforts. They are based at Baton Rouge International Airport.
Engineers from both the Army and the Air National Guard will comprise another task force, whose mission is to remove debris from areas affected by the Hurricane Katrina. The engineers, which include infrastructure experts, began convoying from Houston to the Louis Armstrong Airport today.
A Texas Army National Guard satellite communications team is operating at the Louisiana Superdome. This team is providing the lion’s share of voice and internet communications for the Louisiana Army National Joint Operations Center.
All the deployed Texas National Guard contingents, drawn from various units throughout Texas, are self-sustaining, which means they must have their own food, fuel and repairs with them to last at least 10 days in Louisiana.
Meanwhile, back in Texas, 57 members of the Texas State Guard were lending their expertise in shelter operations to shelters in Baytown, Beaumont, Longview, Marshall, Newton, Orange and Tyler where Louisianans have sought refuge from Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.
The Texas National Guard and the Texas State Guard were called up by Gov. Rick Perry in response to a request from Louisiana’s governor. Even with 1,000 Texas Guardsmen in Louisiana and about 5,000 overseas, Texas still has more than 10,000 Guardsmen in Texas.
1. We currently have 1315 Army and Air National Guardsmen/women on state active duty. At least 90% of them are in Louisiana. The balance are pushing service/material forward.
2. Our missions are medical, communications, transportation, distribution and security. When TF ENG arrives 3AUG05, we'll add construction and debris clearing
3. Today, TF Lonestar is at Louis Armstrong Airport (New Orleans), commanded by Col Ted White. He has TF 536 (400 pax), with TF ENG arriving tomorrow (120 pax). TF Security (300 pax) is based at Belle Chase NAS (New Orleans), with a forward element at the Superdome. The "spear" medical element and the ISISCS (communications) system are at the superdome. TF AVN is in Baton Rouge (100 pax / 8 UH-60, 2 CH-47, 1 C-23) conducting evacuation missions.
4. The Texas Air National Guard has been all over this. Their C-130's are deploying our soldiers/airmen from Ft. Worth, El Paso, San Antonio, Houston to Belle Chase NAS. Their C-26 has been conducting site surveys in direct support of civil authorities.
5. Tomorrow (3AUG05), we will add another 800 (TF 71 - 400 pax and TF San Antonio - 400 pax) soldiers/airmen to the force, for a total of 2115
6..We have PA teams forward with TF Lonestar and TF AVN. Media inquiries can be sent to 512-782-1034
Awesome, simply awesome...
Wow. Really amazing that all this was put together between Wed and now. I am perpetually awed, and humbled by, by the greatness of our Reserves and National Guards. In terms of military skills, adaptability and SHEER dedication to duty, they are the best military this country has EVER fielded Just drop everything and be in NO in 48 hours. Just 48 hours with the paper work that goes with anything the Govt does. Awe inspiring
I wish more people could understand this. We could not even fly towards that area until the storm cleared and then the juggernaut can move forward. It is big, cumbersome and slow. Once moving forward though it can't be stopped I read today that 300 flights a day now (humanitarian only) are going through the airport now thanks to the military getting the airport operational.
Good job guys and girls!
I wish more people could understand this. We could not even fly towards that area until the storm cleared and then the juggernaut can move forward. It is big, cumbersome and slow. Once moving forward though it can't be stopped I read today that 300 flights a day now (humanitarian only) are going through the airport now thanks to the military getting the airport operational.
Good job guys and girls!
sorry
BTTT
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