Vermont has no National Guard choppers to help with cleanup from Hurricane Irene

They are in Iraq!

Eight helicopters on loan from the Illinois National Guard were expected to arrive Tuesday night in Vermont to help the Vermont National Guard deliver food, medicine, water and other supplies to 13 Vermont towns cut off from the rest of the state in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Irene.

The outside helicopter support is needed because all six of the Vermont Guard’s Black Hawk helicopters are still in Iraq

The six helicopters, however, will need to undergo an extensive maintenance check to remove desert sand and grit from their machinery before they are cleared for use back in the state.

www.burlingtonfreepress.com...

The coast guard and national guard should be the ones spearheading this with state-level coordinations.

Unfortunately everyone and everything is involved in endless wars that have no purpose in serving citizens.

This is another example of how it is hurting the people, not only through putting the U.S. in more danger but through bankruptcy but also through natural disasters.

Madness!

reply to post by ModernAcademia


Amazing! Why not just leave at least 3 helicopters in Vermont where they belong. To get these choppers ready for domestic service again they will essentially take them apart and rebuild them.

reply to post by jibeho


As a lifelong vermonter, S and F for you!!

Yes, it's true, our guardsmen have been overseas for years now.
Sad really. Send our troops home!!

reply to post by jibeho

Aside from the blackhawks, all the government choppers are looking for marijuana grows.

Seriously.

Its really not that bad here. Vermonters are resilient people, and we can, more or less, and can take care of ourselves.