COLUMBIA, S.C. - South Carolina is sending 300 Army National Guard soldiers to Louisiana to help efforts to recover from Hurricane Katrina.

Officials have started assembling a military police company, a water purification company and a transport unit, Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Pete Brooks said.

The soldiers are being notified and will report to their home armories in Allendale, West Columbia, Varnville and Kingstree on Thursday, Brooks said.

The units will get their equipment together Friday at the South Carolina National Guard's McCrady Training Site in Eastover and leave for the coast Saturday, Brooks said.