Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon National Guard is on standby for a possible mission to quake-ravaged Haiti.

Governor Ted Kulongoski announced Thursday that the Guard is preparing, in case U.S. military commanders make the call.

Tech Sergeant Nick Choy says Oregon Guard members can help with both short-term and long-term needs.

Nick Choy:  "We can have water distribution centers set up. We also have engineers here who can assist in rebuilding roads, rebuilding runways that may have been damaged, helping out with infrastructure as far as water and sewer, retaining walls and that sort of thing."

So far National Guard units from Puerto Rico and Ohio have been called on to assist in the disaster response.

In 2005, Oregon National Guard units were deployed to aid with hurricane clean-up along the Gulf coast.