1,500 members of the Arkansas National Guard are preparing to head to Texas to help Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. Governor Asa Hutchinson authorized the deployment today, after receiving a request from the state of Texas.
In a statement Hutchinson said the contingent is expected to leave on Saturday and that the deployment could extend up to 30 days.
Earlier this week more than a dozen guardsmen deployed with two Blackhawk helicopters to assist in rescue and relief efforts. That followed the 61st Civil Support Team’s trek to Texas to assist in hazmat and contamination related missions.