Rescue crews make five saves in Texas, Louisiana

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jason Tudor
  • Air Force Print News
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Force search-and-rescue crews made five saves and assisted in six others Sept. 24 during post-storm operations over areas of Louisiana and Texas affected by Hurricane Rita.

The saves were made by Airmen flying HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and HC-130 Hercules refueling aircraft. The aircrews and pararescuemen are from the 347th Rescue Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and the Air Force Reserve’s 920th RW from Patrick AFB, Fla. They are supplemented by crews from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., and Nellis AFB, Nev.

The combined active duty and Reserve search-and-rescue team is deployed here as part of a larger overall federal effort to help affected areas recover from Hurricane Rita.

According to Col. Mark Noyes, commander of the deployed search-and-rescue unit here, multiple teams rescued three critical-care patients from a convalescent home surrounded by flood waters in Fred, Texas. The victims were taken to a hospital in Houston for further care, Colonel Noyes said.

The team made two other saves in Vermillion Parish, Louisiana. The colonel said those people were also pulled from an area isolated by flood water and moved to a safer location.

Colonel Noyes said he was proud of the work done by his total force team.

“This cooperative effort between active duty and Reserve Airmen ensured those victims who felt the wrath of Hurricane Rita were returned to get medical attention they need and returned to their loved ones,” Colonel Noyes said.

While work continues from Randolph, the Air Force team here is now focusing its efforts strictly in Louisiana. Other federal agencies, as well as the Texas Air and Army National Guard, will provide assistance as needed in the Lone Star state, Colonel Noyes said.