About 85 members of the Missouri National Guard assembled at the Cape Girardeau Armory making preparations to assist in flood relief efforts in Southeast Missouri.

Troops and heavy equipment from the National Guard in Cape Girardeau will move south to areas impacted by flooding including Poplar Bluff, Dexter and Sikeston, Mo., said Capt. Carter Roberts of the 1140th Engineer Batallion based in Cape Girardeau.

Troops may conduct health and welfare checks in flooded areas, assist with evacuations and sandbagging. They will receive more specific assignments later today.