North Carolina is sending National Guard to Calif, three C-130s... LINK

[Blackhatjack]

This is significant since NC is suffering through an 'exceptional drought', many times worse than a severe drought, and we are primed with dry timber and brush for fires across the state.

Even so, as a State we send help where its needed, and we know the folks in Calif need our help.


http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/1959129/

NC Air National Guard to Aid Wildfire Fight

WRAL.com, NC

"The North Carolina Air National Guard will deploy three C-130 cargo aircraft, flight crews and support personnel to California to help the US Forest Service ..."

[robinlynne]

1. Thank-you NC!

[Blackhatjack]

4. We are all in this together --whether it is fires or hurricanes....

We struggled for years relocating and rebuilding after Hurricanes like Fran, and extensive flooding in the eastern part of our state.

We understand how important it is to receive help at the time a disaster hits.

Calif deserves all the help they can get right now. (Are You Listening George?)

[Suich]

2. They can really use the help dropping the

fire retardant.

Thanks, NC!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Lasher]

3. Hooray for the North Carolina ANG!

That's what it's all about!

[Blackhatjack]

6. If we did not already have so many National Guard deployed to Iraq/Afghanistan it would be more...

A week ago we got notice that another Guard Unit will be deployed next year. And this unit will be composed of many young new soldiers.

We dodged a bullet with the hurricane season this year. If we had taken a hit like Hurricane Fran we would have been in real trouble.

So it is wonderful that we can share our resources with those who need it, like California.

[Lasher]

10. That's what makes this particularly charitable.

Like everybody else, your ANG is stretched thin.

Good for you on the hurricanes this year. I saw the aftermath of Hugo in Charlotte in 1989.

Looks like a little rain might be moving your way. Let's hope so.

Edit: My state is sending some Red Cross volunteers

Volunteers from West Virginia Head to California
Red Cross ramps up biggest relief effort since Hurricane Katrina.

TEAYS VALLEY -- Some volunteers from West Virginia are heading thousands of miles across country to help victims of the California fires.

The American Red Cross is launching its biggest relief operation since Hurricane Katrina.

Putnam County resident Charmaine Cullen found out Tuesday that she would be flying to Southern California.

Cullen is a registered nurse who helps with the mental health aspects of a disaster.

http://wowktv.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=30557

I hope FEMA is not there to keep the Red Cross out like they did in NOLA.

[Blackhatjack]

11. Good for WV !! WE all need to help any way we can....

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Thanks

our firefighters went to NOLA... now your ANG comes here

That is the way it SHOULD be... shoulder to shoulder in disasters

[Blackhatjack]

7. Exactly!

[trashcanistanista]

8. Thank you!

It is greatly appreciated.

[Breeze54]

9. Also Montana, Colo. and Wyo. National Guard, Navy and Marine Corps helicopters

http://www.emilitary.org/article.php?aid=12494">Defense Department 'Leaning Forward' to Help Californians

snip-->

In addition, six C-130 Hercules aircraft have modular air firefighting systems installed
and will begin flying missions tomorrow morning, said Army Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief
of the National Guard Bureau. Four of the aircraft are from the Montana and North Carolina
Air National Guard and two are Air Force Reserve aircraft out of Peterson Air Force Base,
Colo. All will drop fire retardant or water on the blazes.

National Guard, Navy and Marine Corps helicopters also are dropping water on the fire in
an effort to contain the blazes.

Defense support falls into two areas: fighting the fire and humanitarian relief.
About 100 Defense civilians and active duty military personnel are engaged in firefighting.

“We have 12 teams and equipment actively engaged,” McHale said. “There are 550 Marines who
are preparing for possible deployment … to be engaged in firefighting activities.”

There has been no determination to put the Marines into the fight yet, and officials are using
this time to train the Marines in firefighting techniques.

More than 17,000 California National Guardsmen also can aid in firefighting, McHale said.