CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch will join in the send off New Hampshire National Guard troops who are departing today to assist with the hurricane relief efforts in Louisiana. The first group of about 50 will leave today at 3 p.m. from the Army National Guard base at Pease; the remaining Guard members will depart tomorrow.

"I want to personally thank the members of the New Hampshire Army and Air National Guard, many of whom returned from overseas recently, for their willingness to support this critical relief effort. The hard-working men and women of the New Hampshire National Guard always answer our nation's call, and for that we are deeply grateful," Gov. Lynch said.

"The people of Louisiana are in desperate need of assistance, and we are working here in New Hampshire to give them all the help that we can provide," Gov. Lynch said. "In addition to activating members of our National Guard, we have made clear that we will provide other resources as needed."

New Hampshire's emergency management officials are in close contact with national organizations coordinating relief, are inventorying the resources that New Hampshire can provide, and are prepared to offer any assistance that is needed.

Gov. Lynch has activated 488 National Guard members based Louisiana's request through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. Gov. Lynch has said that New Hampshire will make up to 1,100 Guard members available.

The first group of 475 Army National Guard and 13 Air National Guard will leave at 3 p.m. today from the Air National Guard Base at Pease in Portsmouth . Most of the group will fly to Louisiana on Saturday, the rest will travel by convoy to bring the supplies necessary to support New Hampshire National Guard members while they are mobilized. The deployment is likely to last two weeks.

Gov. Lynch thanked Crystal Geyser Roxanne of Moultonborough for donating bottled water for the National Guard troops being deployed.

"The generosity of the people of New Hampshire has been amazing. In one day alone, people of this state pledged more than $1.1 million to the American Red Cross through WMUR's televised telethon," Gov. Lynch said. " I want to thank everyone in New Hampshire for their support of this effort."