PEORIA, IL (09/07/2017) (readMedia)-- As Hurricane Irma bears toward Florida, the Illinois National Guard has sent additional personnel and equipment to assist in the Atlantic coast region.
At 10:30 a.m., Sept. 7, two C-130 cargo planes and 14 personnel from the 182nd Airlift Wing based in Peoria, Illinois, took off to support relief and response efforts in the wake of Irma.
The first C-130 will transport equipment from Memphis, Tennessee, to St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The second will fly to Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Where it will be staged for further missions.
"Our Soldiers and Airmen embody the spirit of the minuteman," said Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, the Adjutant General of the Illinois National Guard. "The Airmen supporting our neighbors in the Gulf are capable and ready to succeed. We are proud of them and thankful for their service and for the support of their families and employers."
The Illinois National Guard has more than 30 personnel supporting hurricane response and relief efforts.
For more information on the overall Illinois National Guard hurricane relief efforts or for high resolution photos, call the Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569 or 217-725-2265.
