Virginia Governor Dispatches Task Force to Aid Response to Gustav

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that resources from the commonwealth of Virginia will be dispatched to Louisiana in response to the threat of Hurricane Gustav, a major storm aiming for the Gulf Coast. On Friday, Gov. Kaine activated the emergency mutual aid compact (EMAC), which began the process of deploying resources from Virginia to the Gulf Coast.

As a result of EMAC activation, many Virginia state agencies, localities and organizations identified and readied resources that can be deployed and are standing by to respond to additional requests as they are received. A Task Force team of 30 law enforcement officers with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries were scheduled to leave Sunday, 31 August, to arrive at a staging area in Baton Rouge, La., at the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries by Monday morning. They are trained to work in law enforcement as well as search, rescue and evacuation operations in high water areas. The team is equipped with chainsaws, axes, extra fuel, parts and equipment designed for self-sufficiency in the bayou areas of south Louisiana. It is expected that the team will work for about a week before returning to Virginia.

"We have been working for several days with other states to be ready to respond as soon as requests come in from affected areas," Governor Kaine said. "We will share our resources and help in any way we can," Gov. Kaine said.

On Friday, Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine pledged the state’s resources to help the Gulf Coast states prepare for and respond to the potential impact of Hurricane Gustav. The hurricane was expected to make landfall this weekend.

As of Sunday evening, the National Weather Service predicted tropical force winds were about to reach the southeastern tip of Louisiana. And a hurricane warning remains in effect for the area just east of High Island, Texas to the Alabama-Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain, La. This area may see hurricane force winds in the next 24 hours, the National Weather Service said in a weather advisory early Sunday evening. 

Gustav is expected to produce total rainfall accumulations of six to 12 inches over portions of Louisiana, Southern Mississippi and Southern Arkansas with the potential of 20 inches of rainfall possible in isolated areas through Wednesday morning.

Isolated tornadoes are possible over the central gulf coast tonight, the National Weather Service said in an advisory issued early Sunday evening.

Governor Kaine asked any volunteers or first responders to refrain from self-deploying to the area. Those who wish to help should contact a volunteer organization with a response mission, such as those listed on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Web site.