From Deseret News archives:

Utah offers to take 2,000 refugees

None here yet; Utah sending aid and members of Guard

Published: Friday, Sept. 2, 2005 11:47 p.m. MDT
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Anarchy is beginning to rule the streets of New Orleans, with riots, looting and violence erupting throughout the flooded city. Thursday, President Bush promised 1,400 soldiers a day to stop the looting.

Lt. Gen. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said the 7,000 National Guardsmen arriving in Louisiana on Friday would be dedicated to restoring order in New Orleans. He said half of them had just returned from assignments overseas and are "highly proficient in the use of lethal force." He then pledged to put down the violence "in a quick and efficient manner."

The 151st deployed to Iraq more than two years ago, and is expected to be deployed again later this fall, Reutlinger said.

A team of communication specialists from the Utah National Guard's 85th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team also arrived in New Orleans Friday. The soldiers will set up a communications satellite system to provide voice, Internet and data access to the area, Chief Warrant Officer Brian Searcy said.

Ten more Utah National Guard soldiers are expected to leave for Louisiana early Saturday morning. The soldiers will deliver additional communications equipment.

"How do we know who needs help and how to help them if we can't talk to them?" Searcy said. "It's a disaster area."

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Utah's urban search and rescue team, Utah Task Force One, was busy Friday looking for victims in the Biloxi, Miss., area, said Unified Fire Authority Capt. Gaylord Scott.

The group, composed of members of the Salt Lake City Fire Department and the Unified Fire Authority, has been teamed with Florida Task Force One, he said.

It was unknown if the team's efforts had been successful as of Friday.

Representatives from FEMA have been reporting back to Salt Lake City on the status of the search team since Utah authorities are unable to get any cell phone or pager contact with the group, Scott said. The 28-member group from Utah left Tuesday for Camp Shelby, Miss.

Another team from Utah is expected to leave this weekend to assist in the search and rescue effort.

"Our hope is to bring a glimmer of hope to them. After all, we're all Americans," Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Brunt said, just minutes before boarding the massive KC-125 for New Orleans. "We know there are Americans in dire need of help — that's why we're going to help them."

Utah hospitals are assembling teams of doctors, nurses and other skilled care providers to send into the hurricane-ravaged communities along the Gulf. The request was made by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, Utah's former governor, who hopes to assemble 100-person medical teams to run federal medical shelters in Louisiana.

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Utah Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Brent Metzner, left, loads bottled water Friday to be flown to the Gulf Coast from the Air National Guard base.

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