By Sean Copeland

The Illinois National Guard is prepared to provide aid to Puerto Rico, but Officials are wary of interrupting current relief efforts in progress.

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office said more than 550 Illinois guardsmen are on standby to help the U.S. territory in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Guard Major General Richard Hayes said they’re trained and ready.

“The training they get to fight war correlates very much to disasters and emergencies. It’s really those life saving skills with the ability to coordinate and really do logistical type operations,” said Hayes.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency Director James Joseph agrees logistics are a big part of getting aid to Puerto Rico, but also getting aid around the island.

“There’s road infrastructure in some areas that has been wiped away or washed away, there’s been an inability to access some of those areas whether by ground or by foot for a variety of reasons there,” said Joseph.

Joseph said in order to avoid any potential obstacles in regards to mobility around the island, Illinois’ efforts are focusing on only what Puerto Rico says they need.

Military police are on the ready to help maintain order when they’re formally requested, but Hayes said there’s also a major need for logistical support to get goods from one part of the island to another.

“Distribution has been the challenge and that’s where the focus is for the department of defense and the national guard is opening up the lines of communication to get these supplies out,” said Hayes.

Illinois’ guardsmen have already been busy this season helping with storm response in Texas and Florida.

Sean Copeland can be reached at [email protected].