Kansas Governor Laura Kelly announced Soldiers and Airmen from the Kansas National Guard will be deployed to Louisiana to provide support in and around areas affected by Hurricane Ida. The Guardsmen are deploying as part of an Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a multistate agreement that allows states to send government aid to other states in emergency situations.
Approximately 280 Soldiers and Airmen will deploy for this mission, which is expected to last 21 days, including travel. The deploying Soldiers and Airmen are members of the Kansas Army National Guard's 130th Field Artillery Brigade, Manhattan; 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, Hutchinson; 1161st Forward Support Company, Wichita; 169th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Olathe; 635th Regional Support Group, Wichita; 891st Engineer Battalion, Iola; and the Kansas Air National Guard's 184th Wing, Wichita and the 190th Air Refueling Wing, Topeka. The Guardsmen will be taking engineering equipment such as skid steers, dump trucks, chain saws, and excavators. They will also be taking other equipment which includes generators, light medium tactical vehicles, high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, and palletized load system trucks.
