Governor Blunt has authorized the National Guard to offer help to any areas bothered by flood water from Kansas.  National Guard spokesman Tammy Spicer says the Guard is ready whenever the State Emergency Management Agency calls it to action. 

She says the county emergency management officers will contact the State Emergency Management Agency with a request for help.  The Governor’s proclamation clears the way for SEMA to ask the Guard to activate troops.  

SEMA says three west-central Missouri counties are particularly affected–St. Clair, Bates, and Vernon. Spicer says the National Guard has been called to emergency duty six times since April, 2006.  Although some concerns have been expressed in Washington that the Iraqi war is sapping the National Guard of its strength and equipment, Spicer says the Guard has been able to respond to Missouri emergencies with proper staffing levels and proper equipment.