Missouri Air National guard heads to Chile Earthquake Disaster
Two crews of air and support personnel from the Missouri Air National Guard will travel to the Chilean capital of Santiago, nearly a week after the area was devastated by a massive 8.8 magnitude (please check style on the order of words there) earthquake.
In a statement Thursday, Gov. Jay Nixon said the airmen, from the Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing, would be re-routed to Chile for the mission from their current work in Puerto Rico.
“The men and women of the Missouri Air Guard are uniquely qualified to provide emergency response, relief and recovery services, both at home and abroad,” Gov. Nixon said in a release. “I am especially proud of the skill and professionalism of our Air Guard units, and I know they will provide invaluable service to the people of Chile during this time of need.”
The Missouri Air National Guard also assisted rescue efforts in Haiti after an earthquake there in January.