LINCOLN - Four firefighters from Logan County are in Louisiana helping residents affected by Hurricane Gustav, but officials say plenty of manpower and trucks remain available for local emergencies.

On Wednesday morning, Lincoln Assistant Chief Tom Martin and firefighter Darrin Coffee joined Lincoln Rural Assistant Chief Andy Dexter and firefighter Ryan Sheley for a trip to Louisiana to help with storm recovery. Duties they could become involved with include search and rescue, extrication, evacuations and providing relief for local firefighters.

One fire truck from the Lincoln Rural Fire Department, a pickup truck from the Lincoln Fire Department and a trailer provided by the Logan County Emergency Management Agency were used for the trip.

Lincoln Fire Chief Kent Hulett said the departments participate in a nationwide mutual aid program. On Friday, assistance from Illinois was requested as the hurricane bore down on the Gulf Coast.

While the storm was not as devastating as Hurricane Katrina three years ago, there is extensive flooding in many parts of the Gulf Coast region and millions of people were evacuated.

"There's a lot of damage, and they need help in various ways," Hulett said. "More than anything, they just need manpower. They probably will be there for about a week."

Extra precautions will be taken to make sure the absence of the men and equipment won't leave the area shorthanded, Hulett said.

"We have a very organized and effective disaster response team in Illinois and we have a good mutual aid system for our area in place," Hulett said.

In all, 250 Illinois firefighters and nearly 70 fire trucks were sent to Louisiana to help the state recover from the hurricane. The firefighters traveled in a convoy to a staging area at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Lincoln Mayor Beth Davis-Kavelman said she wished them well in their trip.

"I believe that is important to help out in these times and know that help is there if we ever needed it," she said.