Air Force rescues top 4,000 mark

  • Published
  • By Louis A. Arana-Barradas
  • Air Force Print News
JACKSON, Miss. --  Since Air Force helicopters first started search-and-rescue operations 34 hours after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Airmen here have rescued more than 4,000 people as of Sept. 7.

Of that number, active-duty rescue units picked up more than 2,800, said Lt. Col. Bob Thompson, spokesman for the reserve components of the 347th Expeditionary Rescue Group. Guard and Reserve units picked up the remainder.

First in the air over the stricken areas of Louisiana and Mississippi was an element of the Air Force Reserve’s 920th Rescue Squadron from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla.

“The 920th arrived here before midnight Aug. 30 and was flying within hours,” the colonel said.

On Aug. 31, other rescue elements from five active-duty, Guard and Reserve units arrived. Colonel Thompson said they immediately began 24-operations from here.

During the hectic first days, one Reserve aircrew had a particularly good day, the colonel said. During a 12-hour mission, the crew hoisted 187 people to safety.

Air Force officials said the Hurricane Katrina relief effort is the biggest rescue operation ever for the service. But as local officials restore order in the area, and in particular New Orleans, there are fewer rescue missions. Still, some continue.

“Today (Sept. 7) one of our helicopters rescued 12 people and two dogs,” Colonel Thompson said. “So we still have an important mission.”

With New Orleans still about 60-percent underwater, officials have ordered all inhabitants to evacuate the city. City and other officials are doing house-by-house searches for survivors. City officials estimate as many as 15,000 people may still be in the city. Some of those are refusing to leave their homes. Officials fear the people who will not leave might fall victim to disease or armed looters.

At the same time, there are some people calling for help or sending text messages now that cellular telephone service to the city has been partially restored.

With people still left in the city, Airmen still have a job, Colonel Thompson said.

“We’ll stay here as long as somebody needs our capabilities,” he said.

Now, as officials force people to evacuate, the group’s mission -- while still search and rescue -- has gradually turned to moving people from collection stations to hospitals or the New Orleans airport. From there, the Air Force and others fly them to relocation centers in more than 35 states.

As the rescue effort winds down, helicopter units are beginning to head home. The number here has dropped from a peak of 26 aircraft and more than 450 people a week ago, to 19 helicopters and about 400 people left at the base.

No matter, said Tech. Sgt. William Gulledge, a reservist who volunteered to deploy from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., with the 943rd Maintenance Squadron. Everyone involved in the operation is pulling extra duty to keep helicopters in the air, and the aircraft are still flying day and night.

“It’s wonderful to see everyone working together on such a big civilian operation,” he said.

The Davis-Monthan unit has two helicopters involved in the search-and-rescue effort. But the sergeant is also maintaining nine helicopters from other units. Like him, all the maintainers are pulling double duty. But Sergeant Gulledge said it is just part of the job.

“Being a part of this mission gives me a new sense of pride,” the sergeant said. “I’m glad to be here.”