COLUMBUS – Members of the Ohio National Guard are being sent to earthquake-ravaged Puerto Rico to support recovery efforts there.
Today I authorized @OHNationalGuard to provide emergency aid to Puerto Rico after a series of powerful earthquakes caused massive destruction there in recent weeks. The Ohio Air National Guard 200th RED HORSE Squadron will deploy to support the earthquake relief efforts. pic.twitter.com/DRepDEPf10
— Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) January 16, 2020
Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday announced that he is sending the Ohio Air National Guard 200th RED HORSE Squadron, headquartered in Port Clinton with a detachment in Mansfield, to establish two Disaster Relief Bed-down Systems, which are deployable kits capable of providing basic housing and life support facilities for as many as 150 military personnel responding to the disaster.
The RED HORSE — Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer — Squadron will establishing two bed-down systems, which provide tents, showers, and latrines.
Between Dec. 28, and Jan. 7, Puerto Rico experienced hundreds of earthquakes, culminating in a 6.4 magnitude earthquake on January 7, 2020, and multiple aftershocks on its southwestern coast.
Puerto Rico’s governor declared a state of emergency due to the widespread damage and utility disruption.