New York Guard prepares for New Year's Eve

ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Members of the New York Army and Air National Guard were standing by New Year's Eve, ready to respond if an emergency arises, state military officials said.

New York Gov. David Paterson directed the Guard members to conduct additional security missions and be ready to respond to local civil authorities if needed, the U.S. Defense Department said Wednesday in a news release.

The National Guard's 2nd Civil Support Team, a rapid-response squad that detects chemical, biological or radiological hazards, will send a detachment to New York to support the city's police department, military officials said.

National Guard personnel were to conduct increased security operations at Penn Station, the Port Authority Trans-Hudson terminal, and LaGuardia and Kennedy airports, officials said.