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Iowa National Guard Sends Troops and Helicopters on Aid Mission to Texas

Col. Greg Hapgood, Iowa Army National Guard

The Iowa Army National Guard is joining the flood recovery effort in Houston. It is sending troops and helicopters to southeast Texas.

The Guard is deploying 11 soldiers and two Chinook helicopters to the Houston area. Spokesman Col. Greg Hapgood says the copters will be used to move supplies and equipment around the flood-ravaged city.

“It’s a medium lift, heavy lift aircraft," he says. "It will lift about 20,000 pounds, so there’s a lot of utility in a place like Houston for this type of airframe.”

Col. Hapgood says it’s not the first time Iowa soldiers have been called on following a major storm.

“The Iowa National Guard has responded to more than a dozen different domestic response missions since 2005, including Hurricanes Katrina and Gustav, so this is a mission we’re very familiar with,” he says.

Eight of the soldiers and both helicopters are based in Davenport.