Aircraft, Ships, Personnel Brace For Storm

Several branches of the US Armed Forces are working with local, state and federal officials to prepare southwestern Florida for Monday's anticipated arrival of Hurricane Wilma.

The Florida National Guard is taking a significant role in relief operations, by establishing a joint task force operations center in Tallahassee, according to an armed forced press release. The center will conduct preparations and coordinate potential recovery operations throughout the state, according to an armed forces press release.

The Guard also is placing resources where they will be needed if Wilma hits, including 60,000 packaged military meals, more than 100,000 liters of water, and liaison officers in six southern counties in the greatest threat area.

Earlier this week, the Florida Air Guard airlifted non-mobile personnel from Key West medical facilities onboard C-130s. In addition to 1,000 active troops on duty, the ANG also has an additional 5,000 troops on stand-by alert.

According to officials, the Florida Guard has more than 7,500 troops available to support required relief operations, even while more than 2,000 troops continue to serve around the world in the war on terrorism. The state is also prepared to call on neighboring states, if their help is needed.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force has relocated aircraft from bases throughout Key West and Southern Florida to bases in Texas, Georgia, and Alabama, to wait out the storm, and will be available as needed to conduct relief efforts. The US Navy is also readying ships to move to Florida if needed, with the USS Wasp, USS Trenton and USS Nashville (all based at Naval Station Norfolk, VA) preparing to load humanitarian-relief supplies.

As of press time, the storm has been battering Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula for more than two days. The hurricane is expected to further linger Sunday, before beginning its trek north to southern Florida as a Category 2 storm.

FMI: www.floridaguard.net