DECATUR - Air crew based out of Decatur left Sunday morning for the Gulf Coast after the Illinois Army National Guard received a request for help preparing for Hurricane Gustav.

Two UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters with four pilots and four crew members took off about 9:30 a.m. and headed for Esler Airfield in Louisiana, where they will be on call to assist with evacuation and search and rescue missions.

The crews are from Company A, 1st Battalion, 106th Aviation. Earlier Sunday, a twin-rotor Army National Guard Chinook helicopter took off from Peoria for a similar deployment. Army National Guard spokesman, Maj. Brad Leighton, said the Decatur crews are likely to be busy, based on the experience of the Chinook crew.

"My understanding is that, as soon as they hit the ground, they were sent out on an evacuation mission," added Leighton.

He said Illinois had responded to a request from the Louisiana National Guard. Illinois is part of an agreement called the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, a mutual aid pledge by all 50 states to assist each other during crises.

Leighton said the Decatur-based crews weren't given much notice about his latest deployment, which lasts 15 days. "They got a call Saturday on their holiday weekend," he said. "These folks are giving up an awful lot of family time to help other people."

Leighton said the helicopter crews deployed from Illinois were well-qualified for the job, including soldiers who responded to Katrina and Hurricane Rita and who had experience working in situations such as Iraq.

Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Illinois National Guard adjutant general, said the Guard's willingness to help exemplifies the character of Illinois residents. "Illinoisans are always willing to lend a hand to those who need it," he added.

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The Decatur-based crews deploying Sunday are, pilots: Chief Warrant Officers Damien Germsheid of Champaign and Scott Wiley of Washington, Mo.; Capt. James Smith of Heyworth and Warrant Officer Adam Humphreys of Normal.

Crew: Staff Sgt. Michael Simard of Charleston; Sgts. Garath Mills of Mount Zion and Daniel Wentworth of Decatur; Spc. Kristopher Willings of Taylorville.