National Guard MIA For Storm Response

With hurricane season officially starting Friday, Louisiana is worrying over the absence of National Guard equipment its reserves were ordered to leave in Iraq. Louisiana is lacking 200-300 vehicles, by some estimates. This year -- unlike in 2005 when Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc in the state -- all of the state's guardsmen will be stationed at home and ready to aid in storm response and recovery. And the Army has assured state officials that it will supply equipment if needed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has given assurances that state storm response plans are robust, and that its own capabilities have improved since 2005. With an unusually active storm season predicted, it's wait-and-see time with the stakes very high, according to a story in the May 30 Times-Picayune.