Pentagon says Alabama, Florida, Mississippi request mobilization of Guard troops

DOD: 3 more states want federal Guard mobilization

WASHINGTON — The Pentagon says Alabama, Florida and Mississippi have requested the federal mobilization of National Guard troops to aid clean-up efforts along the Gulf Coast.

Col. Dave Lapan, a Defense Department spokesman, said Monday that those requests are similar to one made last week by Louisiana.

That request allowed up to 6,000 National Guard troops, paid for by the federal government under Title 32 law, to be made available to Louisiana. So far, on-site coordinators have called in only 600 of those Guard troops, although defense officials say that number could go higher.