Ohio National Guard headed to U.S. Virgin Islands for Hurricane Irma relief

Members of Ohio's 200th Red Horse Squadron

PORT CLINTON — Airmen from the 200th RED HORSE Squadron are on their way today to the U.S. Virgin Islands to support relief efforts for the damage from Hurricane Irma, the Ohio National Guard announced.

The 20 Airmen will depart from the 179th Airlift Wing at Mansfied Lahm Airport this afternoon to establish Disaster Relief Beddown Systems, which provide “basic housing and life support facilities such as tents, showers and latrines, for up to 500 people,” according to the Ohio National Guard.

RED HORSE — which stands for Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer — is based out of the Camp Perry Joint Training Center.