CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. – The Arkansas National Guard was handed it’s 61st state mission this afternoon, it’s third mission in support of Hurricane Gustav preparation. The Camp Robinson based Institute Support Unit (ISU) received the call to provide 15 personnel and transportation assets for the distribution of commodities as required.
As the team stood up, mission number 62 hit the tracking board at the Arkansas National Guard’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management called in the need for the Guard to provide 75 cots and 150 blankets for the team’s delivery to Monticello, Ark., where a local church was setting up temporary shelter for incoming evacuees.
Two similar missions came in shortly after, with EOC staff personally loading and delivering the first due to its close proximity. The two man team deployed 50 cots and 100 blankets to the 1st Presbyterian Church in downtown Little Rock. The ISU took ownership of the next with 50 cots and 100 blankets needing delivery to Hope, Ark. The unit will deploy the Hope and Monticello missions Sunday morning, August 31.
As the Guard is supporting these communities to assist with incoming evacuees, it is welcoming in those seeking shelter from the storm as well. The Guard’s mission to open the doors of Fort Chaffee became operational on Saturday August 30.
At 7:30 p.m. of the first day, the Guard’s EOC reported that 139 people had been in processed at Fort Chaffee, which is near Fort Smith, Ark. Fifty more were anticipated by the end of the night with another 500 scheduled to arrive by buss on Sunday. All together Fort Chaffee is making preparations to house up to 4,000 displaced residents evacuated from the Louisiana area. The Fort Chaffee mission is currently manned by 130 State Active Duty support personnel according to the EOC, but that number is expected to grow to a total of 165.
Overall, the Arkansas Guard currently has over 200 personnel working State Active Duty missions in support of in pending storm. Over 10,000 Soldiers and Airmen strong, the Arkansas Guard strives to maintain a minimum of 50 percent of that force in the state at all times. Today, with over 3,000 Arkansas troops deployed overseas, approximately 6,000 remain available for response in support of civil authorities as needed for a variety of missions here in the state or as needed elsewhere.
