After severe flooding in Venezuela in December, the country's water production capabilities were seriously reduced. Six members of the Virgin Islands National Guard were on their way Friday to Venezuela, carrying with them three 3,000-gallon Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units.
Once there they will join up with other National Guard units from North Dakota and Florida as part of Operation Fundamental Response.
The V.I. contingent will replace guard members from Puerto Rico who have been in Venezuela since December.
The release from the National Guard did not say how long the Virgin Islands guards would remain in Venezuela.
The 10 days of intense rains in the middle of December caused mudslides that resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 250,000 people.