MacDill AFB medical team supports hurricane relief efforts

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Robert Maki
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AFPN) --  A mobile aeromedical staging facility team from the 6th Air Mobility Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., arrived here Sept. 9 in support of Hurricane Ike evacuation efforts.

Along with the MASF team, more than 200 state and federal assets and volunteers converged on Corpus Christi ahead of Ike in order to coordinate, manage and safely transport patients from the surrounding area to points of definitive care. The staging facility is outfitted with more than $750,000 in medical supplies and equipment to handle up to 600 patients with minimal to intensive care needs.

Director of operations for the MASF team, 1st Lt. Jason Estes, said the MASF team had come a long way since arrival and felt confident about the team's capabilities in handling the situation. Once on site, the aeromedical staging facility was fully operational and ready to receive patients within two hours. The mission of the MASF team is to receive patients from any type of situation and prepare them for flight.

"We are feeling pretty confident, said Lieutenant Estes. "We have a good squad and good support here with the guard and Reserve; a lot of good people on the ground."

He also said all the teams embedded in the staging facility worked well together to organize and prepare to process patients.

"I think that we have had enough time together to know the strengths and weaknesses of each member to back each other up," said Staff Sgt. Jennifer Corbin, MASF team administrative clerk. "I have faith in us. We have a great team out here."

Maj. Scott Russell, operations officer for the 142nd Aeromedical Squadron, Delaware National Guard, said, "We're taking every opportunity to ensure patient safety and comfort."

The staging facility is on high alert to evacuate at a moment's notice, but it is unclear whether the teams will fall back or wait out the hurricane at their current location.

In a landmark moment for Air Mobility Command, a 13-member MASF team deployed to Beaumont, Texas, earlier this month in support of Hurricane Gustav. The deployment marked the first real-world operation for the MASF since the mission transitioned to active-duty Airmen from the Reserve in 2007. 

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