AF support missions intensify after wake of Hurricane Katrina Published Sept. 2, 2005 WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- As thousands flee in a mass exodus from Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, hundreds of Airmen nationwide are flocking to the region to help recover from Hurricane Katrina's devastation.Dozens of Air Force aircraft have flown missions supporting Federal Emergency Management Agency humanitarian relief operations within the last two days, said Air Force crisis action team members at the Pentagon. Seven of those flights carried much-needed food, water and supplies to local residents. There were also at least two medical evacuation flights carrying sick and injured from the area.So far, the Air Force has moved more than 190 tons of relief supplies and support equipment, and about 181 passengers and 54 medical patients.Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen working for the Joint Forces Air Component commander have flown more than 50 hours in search and rescue missions throughout the affected areas.Since Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., incurred extensive damage from the hurricane, a large concentration of Airmen and equipment, ranging from communication teams to legal experts and security forces, are moving there to assist Airmen and families.More than 15,000 cases of packaged meals have been shipped in from other bases, while Tyndall AFB, Fla., sent 30 cooks to prepare hot meals. Chaplain teams have been set up, and donations for military families are already pouring in from around the world.Aircraft, equipment and Airmen from as far north as McGuire AFB, N.J., and as far west as Travis AFB, Calif., are all actively involved in the national support network providing help to those in the Gulf region -- and they will not stop as long as aid is needed, officials said."The Air Force will remain active in this effort as long as it takes to get this area back on its feet again," said Col. Steve Pennington, AFCAT team chief. "Not only is this something we are trained to do, it's simply the right thing to do."