Posted: September 1, 2005 at 4:41 p.m.
SACRAMENTO (KRON) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an order Thursday ordering the California National Guard to deploy to states affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The Governor signed General Order 2005-01, ordering the Adjutant General of the California National Guard "...to call into Active State Service such forces of the active militia that are needed to respond to this emergency."
The California National Guard is deploying more than 500 troops along with their equipment to support relief efforts already underway. Troops will help provide security, communications, cargo airlift and humanitarian aid.
"The State of California will do everything in its power to assist our fellow citizens suffering from the effects of Hurricane Katrina," Schwarzenegger said. "This is a disaster of almost unimaginable proportions and it is our duty to reach out to those states that need our help, just as they would aid us in our own time of need."
The deployment is composed of a security force that includes over 100 members of the 870th Military Police Company, a multi-purpose security force of over 400 personnel drawn from both the 2/185 Armored Battalion and the Air National Guard and a Special Forces A-Team from the 5/19 Special Forces Group.
Officials anticipate additional requests for support personnel as the disaster relief effort continues.
Good to hear. 500 troops though? Since we have a population of 30+ million and are the 7th largest economy, and have the highest concentration of wealth in the world I would hope we could do a little better than that. Heck we can provide medical care for 1.5 million illegals.
With so much of our attention and emergency resources focussed on NO and elswhere in Katrina's wake, I keep having the scary thought that if AQ has anything in place to hit us with, now would be an ideal (for them) time to do it.
I wish I hadn't thought of this but there it is.
And Sept. 11 approaches...