JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Matt Blunt has activated the Missouri National Guard to send more than 500 members to Louisiana to help prepare for Hurricane Gustav.
Blunt says Missouri is sending 500 citizen-soldiers, a 20-member group from the 7th Civil Support Team and a 12-member aviation maintenance team. Members were assembling Saturday and could leave as early as Sunday morning.
Blunt also announced on Saturday seven shelter locations set up to accommodate evacuees.
Those shelters will house several thousand Louisiana residents that the state will air-evacuate to Missouri.
Those air evacuations are set to begin Sunday afternoon.