Most Americans identify the National Guard with providing emergency services during natural disasters. But over the past three years, numerous Guard units have been sent to Iraq to fight alongside regular forces.

Asked how his troops felt being in Iraq while their state was in such difficulty, Jones replied: "Well, we all know our primary mission is the federal one."

"The secondary mission is to serve at the pleasure of the governor in disaster-relief and other missions," said Jones, 44, who works for a company managing the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Louisiana National Guard troops left back home have been busy rescuing people from the deluge and bringing them to safety in their trucks.

In other Gulf states, more than 1,600 Mississippi National Guardsmen were activated to help with the recovery, and the Alabama Guard was planning to send two battalions to Mississippi, the hardest-hit area.

One of the Mississippi National Guard units, the 155th Armored Brigade, is attached to the II Marine Expeditionary Force in Iraq.