Md. National Guard Ready To Help On Eastern Shore

REISTERSTOWN, Md. (AP) -- The Maryland National Guard has deployed 70 pieces of equipment on the Eastern Shore, including Humvees and other trucks able to operate in flooded areas, to help respond to Hurricane Irene.

Lt. Col. Charles Kohler said Saturday that the guard is supporting about 23 pre-emptive missions statewide. The vehicles on the Eastern Shore are to help first responders in case they have trouble entering an area due to flooding.

Howard Silverman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, says hurricane conditions will mostly be confined to the Eastern Shore. He says the state may get a few hurricane-strength gusts reaching the western shoreline of St. Mary's County, but tropical storm force winds are still expected to topple trees in saturated ground.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)