Missouri National Guard airmen are preparing to fly relief supplies to Haiti. Another crew heads to Arizona before aiding in reconstruction efforts.
State Adjutant General Steve Danner says eleven National Guard airmen have flown a C-130 to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina. They deployed from Rosecrans guard base in St. Joseph.
Danner says the C-130 can carry up to 42,000 pounds of supplies. A separate guard crew will deploy from Arizona. The civil engineer airmen will join a bigger crew there. In Haiti, they’ll plan and direct operations in clean-up, demolition of buildings, reconstruction.
A separate air crew from Missouri will deploy to Haiti from Arizona. That crew will aid in civil engineering efforts, working to clean up and rebuild the crumbled island nation.
Governor Nixon praised the guard for its readiness to provide service when needed. He’s also urging Missourians to donate to the relief effort, saying a list of trustworthy organizations are posted on the State of Missouri Web site.
“These Airmen are helping meet the significant challenges of getting badly needed supplies to this devastated country, and we are very proud of them,” said Gov. Nixon, who visited with Airmen at Rosecrans last Friday. “The Missouri National Guard has a long record of humanitarian missions to help people in great need after disasters. This mission adds to that tradition.”
“Once again, the Missouri National Guard is ready to provide assistance when needed,” said Danner, adjutant general for the Missouri National Guard. “Your Missouri National Guard Citizen-Airmen and Soldiers are well trained and equipped for this mission.”
For more on how and where to help in the relief efforts, visit www.mo.gov
For more on the C-130, visit http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/factsheet_print.asp?fsID=92&page=1
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