Gov. Timothy M. Kaine has activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to help states on the Gulf Coast prepare for and respond to the potential impacts of Hurricane Gustav. EMAC is a national interstate mutual aid agreement that enables states to share resources during times of disaster.

“We are working with the Gulf States now to determine how we can help them and what resources we can send,” says Kaine. “Other states helped us respond to Hurricane Isabel, and Virginia stands ready to assist those in the path of this storm.”

The storm is projected to become a Category 3 hurricane or stronger as it enters the Gulf of Mexico this weekend and make landfall between Florida and Texas early next week.

“I encourage all Virginians to get involved in helping those who need it by making charitable donations to major disaster relief organizations,” says Kaine.

Kaine has directed a series of state agencies and organizations to inventory the resources that could be deployed.