Included in that process is the Louisiana National Guard Bravo Company, 2nd Batallion, stationed in New Iberia, which has been activated, Lt. Lawrence Toups said.
The 105 soldiers have begun assembling units for trucks, water, food, tents and anything else the company, the 156th Infantry of the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, will need for operations.
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Approximately 3,000 LANG Soldiers and Airmen have been activated in support of emergency operations and are prepared to support civil missions and assist with various needs and emergencies across the state expected to arise.
“Our Soldiers and Airmen are staged and set to deploy to our coastal parishes without hesitation. Engineer and Communications Teams are reporting to coastal parishes and are set to assist our citizens and local parish emergency responders,” said Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, adjutant general for the Louisiana National Guard.
“Our security forces are deploying to ensure safety and security of homes and personnel. We are confident in our plans and ability to execute those plans on a moments notice.”
LANG Search and Rescue assets are preparing for deployment to potential impact areas. Soldiers and Airmen are also pre-positioning to support shelter security missions across the state. LANG teams are ready to support Contra Flow missions in coordination with the Louisiana State Police.
LANG Security Forces are preparing for deployment to potential impact areas, including deployment to New Orleans in support of the city’s evacuation plan. The Guard is requesting additional helicopter assets with Emergency Management Assistance Compact states in preparation for potential Search and Rescue missions.
Soldiers of the Lake Charles based 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team began the initial alert preparations for the possible landfall of Hurricane Gustav. The battalion, which consists of Soldiers from all over Southwest Louisiana, has prepped vehicles and equipment for the deployment to New Orleans or any other area that may be affected.
“We’re ready to go wherever we need to,” said Lake Charles native, 1st Sgt. Gary Burchfield of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-156th Inf. Bn.
The 256th IBCT’s 199th Leadership Brigade Support Battalion located in Alexandria, La., sent 2,000 gallons of water to Colfax in preparation for support missions. This potentially life-saving water will be distributed to citizens if the need arises. Additionally, 160 Soldiers from the 528th and the 527th Engineer Battalions in Ruston have been directed various security missions in the Jefferson Parish area and will be assigned to the Clearview evacuation site.
Two three-man engineer assessment teams from the 1023rd Engineer Company are on stand-by for possible missions in Ascension, St. James and St. Charles Parishes.
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