National Guard Soldiers Serving 'Admirably' During Isaac

August 31, 2012
By Amaani Lyle, Courtesy of American Forces Press Service
Washington, DC, United States

As Tropical Depression Isaac bounds northward into the Mississippi River valley, National Guard Soldiers continue to provide critical support to local emergency officials and citizens throughout the Gulf states, Pentagon Press Secretary George Little said in a briefing here today.

"Even though the storm has moved up from the Gulf, there's still work to be done," Little said. "There are still more than 3,600 National Guard personnel on duty in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama."

Little said Louisiana-Mississippi National Guard Soldiers are "serving admirably during the storm," and have already rescued or evacuated more than 3,400 citizens during ongoing search-and-rescue operations.

In addition to delivering pallets of generators, water and supplies to key facilities throughout the state, guardsmen have also set up distribution sites to provide meals—ready-to-eat—water and ice, Little said.

Military aircraft evacuated from Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL; Tyndall Air Force Base, FL; Duke Field, FL; Eglin Air Force Base, FL; and Keesler Air Force Base, MS, have returned to base or are in the process of returning to base, Little added.