Help from Kansas lifted off Friday for the hurricane-ravaged Gulf coast.

Members of the Kansas National Guard say they're ready to do whatever they can to help. Six members of the 108th Aviation team took off Friday with two Blackhawk helicopters. They'll deliver supplies and equipment to the advance party of the 35th Infantry division, and do scout work to see what else will be needed for assignments in the region in the months ahead.

Even the youngest in their families understands the cause. 108th Instructor Pilot Wally Pollack says his children have been watching news coverage for days and saying we need to go there and help out.

Kansas Adjutant General Tod Bunting says the advance team will return to Kansas, then be part of a team of 18 who'll go back within a week. The 35th Infantry unit they're supporting is on alert. Maj. Gen. Bunting says the state will let Louisiana and Mississippi know what we have, and as they call and tell us what they need, we'll provide it.

Bunting expects 500 to 600 guard members to be involved in a mission that could take several months. He says its part of what being the "United" States is all about. He says if Kansas had a disaster, he'd expect other states would do the same to help us.