With increasing reports of gunshots and looting undermining the evacuation and recovery efforts in Louisiana, Governor Sebelius offered the services of the Kansas National Guard.

"Our guardsmen and women tell me that they're ready to go and do whatever is needed to help the victims get back on their feet," Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, D-Kansas, said.

"There's going to be a lot of recovery and a lot of suffering. This is the storm of our lifetime and so all of us feel like we want to make a difference and get the people of Louisiana back on their feet," Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, Adjutant General, said.

"For getting ready we made it as far as to take thousands of people or hundreds of people down there, emergency forces throughout the state are consistently ready."

The guard will launch six black-hawk helicopters tomorrow morning and could send up to 30 five-ton trucks and 150 guardsmen.

Commanders on the trip say protection of life and property is the first priority.

"You will see looting during some tornadoes or natural disasters yes, not of this scale," Col. Joe Wheeler said.

The guard wasn't the only force asked to be ready to head to ground zero.

Nurses and physicians from Stormont-Vail Hospital could also relieve doctors helping hurricane victims.

"We've had a nurse down there that used to work in our ER and she told us of the conditions and how tired they are and I think that also makes us ready to go down there and help," Gail Ciesielski, Stormont-Vail nurse, said.

That help is already on the way.

"It's just part of what being an American is all about, not feeling comfortable unless everyone is comfortable," Bunting said.

The national guardsmen and women are on their way to Alexandria, Louisiana which is a little over two hours north of New Orleans.

Also today, Sebelius said any state employee who heads down to help with the American Red Cross will receive 20 days of paid leave.