With the National Guard in Iraq, will there be enough to help New Orleans?

[ClevelandSportsCurse]

Since the National Guard is often called to restore order and help rebuild in a post-disaster, who will help out New Orleans with so many National Guardsmen in Iraq?

If there is a lack of help, then Bush could really get cooked by this hurricane.

[oasis]

1. Yesterday Sen. Landrieau was lamenting about 3,000 members of

the national guard not being available because of duty in Iraq.

[still_one]

2. curious, did the representatives, and Senators from Louisiana vote

for the Iraq war?

[ozymandius]

6. Yes.

Landrieu agonized over her 'yes' vote. She was threatened with electoral retaliation in 2002 if she voted 'no'.

[PaganPreacher]

3. No problem- plenty of troops.

The Louisiana Army and Air National Guards have troop strength exceeding 11,000 personnel (ref: Louisiana National Guard website- http://www.la.ngb.army.mil/About_Us.htm ).

With approximately 3,000 deployed (ref: Landreau's statement, noted on this thread), that leaves about 8,000 men and women at home station and ready to answer the call. That should be plenty of manpower to meet any disaster relief needs.

That being said....

If the state needs more than 8,000 soldiers and airmen, Louisiana has "memoranda of understanding" (MOUs) with neighboring states to provide asistance, and active duty military personnel and equipment may also be used for disaster relief operations.


The Pagan Preacher
I don't turn the other cheek.

[Samurai_Writer]

4. Last year in Florida there weren't enough

So I don't see how there could be enough in Louisiana and Mississippi this year.

I went through France and Jeanne last September (within 3 weeks of each other). The other two last year missed us on the east coast for the most part. Guard were nowhere to be seen.

[HereSince1628]

5. But what proportion of the 8000 will also be victims and refugees?

I am guessing that in a catastrophe of this size most of NO's emergency responders are going to be victims and refugees.