JOHNSTON, Iowa — The Iowa National Guard says a large contingency of its soldiers is set to join the effort to help Florida recover from Hurricane Milton. Soldiers from the 1168th Transportation Company are preparing for a hurricane deployment. The company’s soldiers are based in Perry, Audubon, and Marshalltown. The deployment will involve military vehicles capable of driving through flooded roads and communities and assisting in transporting essential supplies.

The number of soldiers being deployed was not immediately released. More details about the deployment are expected to be released today (Thursday).

Iowa National Guard soldiers are already on the ground helping with Hurricane Helene recovery in North Carolina. Among other operations, guard members have been using a Chinook helicopter to deliver food and water to flood victims in western North Carolina.