Paul Karas
Gary Chicago Airport

National Guard Building Center at Gary/Chicago Airport

A $15 million National Guard Aviation Facility housing a 22 member Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team team trained to respond to chemical or terrorist attacks anywhere in Indiana will be built at Gary/Chicago Airport. A joint statement issued by U.S. Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar announced the initiative.

U.S. Senators Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar as well as Governor Joe Kernan had urged the Pentagon to approve the Indiana team. Prior to this approval, Indiana was among 23 other states without the capacity to respond to emergencies and terrorist threats with a federally funded civil support team.

The new 48,407 square foot National Guard Center will house a medical company, five Blackhawk helicopters, and an air evacuation unit. Construction may be targeted as early as year end.