Governor Taft has ordered 1,500 Ohio National Guard troops to help provide security and aid rescue and recovery efforts in hurricane-stricken Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana.
The units were expected to leave Thursday for Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, which is serving as a staging area.
The Ohio National Guard units are from Bowling Green, Columbus, Delaware, Kettering, Lima, North Canton, Springfield, Urbana and Xenia.
Taft also urged Ohioans to give to the American Red Cross relief fund and keep the victims in their prayers. Columbus-based Limited Brands announced a $300,000 gift to the Red Cross.
Ohio State University president Karen Holbrook announced today the Univerity will collect relief donations at September football games.
The Cincinnati Bengals said they would accept donations for hurricane victims at their NFL preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts tomorrow.