Oregon Public Broadcasting

Nearly sixty National Guard members from the Northwest have deployed to Texas to help out in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

So far most of the Guard members are standing by in Austin, Texas awaiting orders. But 12 members of the Oregon Air National Guard have made it to the hard-hit Galveston area.

Captain Stephen Bomar says the 125th Special Tactics Squadron will help with search and rescue.

Stephen Bomar: “Right now what they’re doing on the ground is establishing landing zones for helicopters and trying to establish a good support base for the rescue helicopters that will be coming in and also providing humanitarian aid on the ground.”

The Oregon Guard has also sent two twin-rotor Chinook helicopters to Texas.

The Idaho Guard dispatched nine communications specialists to the hurricane zone. They will set up temporary Internet, phone and radio systems.

Washington State deployed 28 guard members - mostly Blackhawk helicopter crews and communications specialists.