SC National Guard helicopters trains for emergency

MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina National Guard helicopters are loading equipment as they train to prepare for a possible coastal emergency in Jasper County.

Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Jim St. Clair says Saturday’s exercise is meant to prepare forces to respond immediately to a possible emergency, such as an earthquake in the Beaufort area.

Guard helicopters are practicing loading people and equipment as part of the training. They are to work on moving ground command and control equipment from Columbia to the Jasper County Airport in Ridgeland as part of the training exercise.