EPLOs move into place to support Gustav Published Sept. 1, 2008 TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla (AFPN) -- As Hurricane Gustav approached the Gulf Coast, Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers from all over the nation were brought in to help. EPLOs from as far away as Alaska moved into place in Louisiana, Texas and Alabama to coordinate military assets to support civil authorities. Lt. Col. Kelly Carmen, an Alaska-assigned EPLO, is in place in New Orleans supporting the aeromedical evacuation efforts. Along with Colonel Carmen, two other EPLOs, Col. Jeff Theulen from Nebraska, and Lt. Col. Steve Flanagan from Hawaii, are deployed to Louisiana. In El Paso, Texas, EPLO Col. Andy Anderson is serving at the Federal Coordination Center, helping to find hospitals that have the room to shelter evacuated patients. Col. Linc Larson is deployed to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where responders are preparing to receive outbound evacuees from the Gulf Coast, as well as inbound support from across the nation. Several EPLOs have deployed here to help coordinate emergency preparedness activities nationwide, including possible support for Hurricane Hanna. "With another storm on the rise behind Gustav, two liaison officers are at the FEMA headquarters in Atlanta," said Col. Michael Hare, Air Forces Northern Emergency Preparedness Agency director. Working with officers from the Navy, Marines and Army, these EPLOs respond to civilian requests for assistance by Federal Emergency Management Agency officials. EPLOs are geographically assigned to each state and the 10 FEMA Regional Coordination Centers. The officers come from a wide range of career fields including air operations, logistics, medical, security forces, and public affairs. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service) Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page