Virginians aid Ike relief in Texas, La. - storm_updates

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Virginians aid Ike relief in Texas, La.

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2008 - 12:09 AM Updated: 03:28 AM

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Gov. Timothy M. Kaine announced yesterday that resources from Virginia have been sent to Louisiana and Texas to help with hurricane relief efforts.

Dominion Virginia Power also has sent about 480 workers to assist in returning power to storm-damaged parts of the Gulf Coast region, company spokesman Dan Genest said.

"Virginians remain committed to helping residents of the Gulf Coast recover from the devastation of Hurricane Ike," Kaine said in a statement. "At the same time, we will be prepared to respond to any emergencies that may affect the commonwealth."

Genest said that when Hurricane Isabel slammed Virginia in 2003, crews from Texas helped Dominion. "It's mutual aid," he said.

Kaine said the following Virginia personnel and equipment have been sent:

21 employees and 19 boats from the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to support the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries;

an incident-management team of 30 people from the Virginia Department of Forestry to support the Texas Forest Service, and

an undetermined number of personnel and equipment from several Virginia localities to help at the federal and local levels.

The deployments are in response to requests for aid under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact that Kaine activated Aug. 29 in response to Hurricane Gustav and extended to Hurricane Ike. The compact allows states to share resources in response to disasters.

Dominion sent about 360 contract workers to the Gulf region after Gustav struck Sept. 1, and they remain there, Genest said.

About 120 Dominion workers left Sunday for Ruston, La., and should arrive today to assist Entergy Corp., Genest said. -- Rex Springston and Mark Bowes

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