The ambulances and their crews have a specific mission, if Gustav comes ashore with a vengeance: help the helpless. They’ll help evacuate hospitals and nursing homes.

The crews had a briefing from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Friday morning. After Hurricane Katrina and Rita's incredible devastation in August 2005, all emergency responders are equipped with the same special training to go into action.

To those heading for the storm's path, it’s about paying it back, because of the response to ice storms that paralyzed the Ozarks in 2007, and paying it forward.

“They helped us, so it’s important to be able to respond,” said Mark Alexander, a CoxHealth emergency medical service crew member.

Ambulance service in the Springfield area will not suffer, they say, because someone has got them covered.

Arkansas will send 40 National Guard members to a staging area in Louisiana on Saturday in case they're needed. Three years ago, Arkansas was a safe haven for thousands of displaced Gulf Coast residents after Katrina and Rita hit. Late Friday, Gov. Mike Beebe authorized $250,000 in emergency relief if hurricane victims retreat to Arkansas again.