The chief of the National Guard Bureau said today that the Army and Air National Guard are prepared to help in the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti.

Specifically, the Puerto Rico National Guard, which is one of the closest U.S. territories in the area, has personnel and equipment on standby.

The Puerto Rico Army Guard has alerted three UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the 1/111th Aviation Company along with 12 crew members, and the Puerto Rico Air Guard has called up two C-130 aircraft from the 156th Airlift Wing with 21 support personnel, said Army Capt. Paul Dahlen, the state public affairs officer.

He said the aircraft have anticipated deployment times, but they are waiting for final approvals