Ohio Guard Sending 1,500 Troops to Gulf Coast

The Ohio National Guard is sending 1,500 troops to Louisiana to help with the cleanup following Hurricane Gustav. The Ohio group joins Missouri in providing guardsman the hurricane ravaged area.

Guard spokesman James Sims says the deployment could begin this week, today or Friday, September 5. Units from Columbus, Newark and Coshocton will be among those sending troops.

Last week, the Guard sent a CH-47 Chinook helicopter and five crew members from a battalion based in Akron at the request of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. The crew went to help the state prepare for Gustav, which hit the Gulf Coast on on September 1.

The Guard sent 1,500 troops to Louisiana and Mississippi in 2005 following Hurricane Katrina. Another 1,200 troops were deployed a month later in response to Hurricane Rita.