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6,500 U.S. troops ready for hurricane relief

27 August 2011 20:59 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. The United States Department of Defense on Saturday ordered 6,500 active duty troops to be ready for providing disaster relief efforts to coastal states endangered by Hurricane Irene, department spokesman George Little said, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta issued the order for troops from all branches of the U.S. military to support disaster relief efforts if any of the affected states calls for help.

Earlier on Friday, Panetta directed U.S. Northern Command to provide support as identified by Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), while designating three military bases in North Carolina, New Jersey and Massachusetts as FEMA Incident Support Bases. The Pentagon also propositioned 225 trucks loaded with equipment, food, water, and generators at Fort Bragg Base in North Carolina.

In addition, 18 military helicopters have been deployed to the eastern coastal states for life saving and life sustaining support. Approximately 101,000 National Guard troops were mobilized to provide disaster relief and rescue missions to the possibly affected areas if needed.