LIMESTONE (AP) – Scores of Humvees that were refurbished in northern Maine were on their way to National Guard units working in the relief and recovery effort along the Gulf Coast.

The 120 Humvees, which were refurbished at the Maine Military Authority facility at Loring Commerce Centre, were expected to arrive by Saturday in the hurricane-ravaged region. The vehicles, three to each tractor-trailer transports, left the Limestone facility Tuesday.

“They cleaned out our yards of units ready for service,” Gary Cleaves, manager of the MMA, said Friday. “They took everything we had. We are doing 10 or so units a day. They could be asking for more.”

National Guard units from Louisiana that have been called back from Iraq to work in their home states need vehicles to do their hurricane relief work. Vehicles being used by the Louisiana National Guard stayed behind in Iraq.

The Maine Military Authority operates in eight buildings at the commerce center and employs more than 460 people. More expansions, which could swell MMA’s payroll to 700, are expected.

The facility also refurbishes other kinds of military vehicles and equipment. Only Humvees were shipped south this week.

Meanwhile, the Bangor Humane Society and city are sending staff members to Louisiana on Tuesday to help with animal rescue efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

They include two animal care technicians from the humane society and Bangor’s animal control officer.

Bangor is among numerous civic and governmental organizations that are seeking to help the gulf area recover from the hurricane and floods.

Portland is helping out with a benefit concert for hurricane relief at Merrill Auditorium on Oct. 2. The Yarmouth Town Council on Thursday will debate a proposal to contribute $25,000 in taxpayer money to a relief organization for disaster victims.

AP-ES-09-10-05 1203EDT

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