Katrina Rescue Operations: Are National Guard and Equipment Stretched Thin by Iraq War?

With search and rescue operations underway in multiple states and many communities facing massive reconstruction efforts, state governments are relying significantly on aid from the National Guard. But with the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, the number of Guardspeople available at home has been slashed. Still, the National Guard insists it has enough troops to address the storm but officials from several states have said that is not the case.

Earlier this month the Louisiana National Guard publicly complained that too much of its equipment was in Iraq. The local ABC news affiliate reported dozens of high water vehicles, Humvees, refuelers and generators are now abroad. Other states are facing shortfalls as well when facing fires, floods or other disasters. A few months before summer began, Montana's governor called for that state's National Guard to be brought home from Iraq because of possible wildfires. As is the case with Louisiana's Guard, Montana found that critical equipment was overseas in Iraq. This included the bulk of the Guard's helicopters which are critical in shuttling fire crews and equipment to blazes.

* Rosemary Brasch, worked as a Red Cross family services specialist for national disasters. She has worked on several hurricanes along the East Coast.

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