Air Force Reserve flies missions to storm-ravaged areas

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ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFPN) --  Within hours after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast, Air Force Reserve Command people and aircraft were headed toward disaster areas to help survivors.

Three HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., flew to Jackson, Miss., late Aug. 30 to fly Federal Emergency Management Agency damage assessment teams to affected areas.

"Our rescue crews continued supporting FEMA efforts until 5 a.m., the next day," said Col. Max D'La Rotta, a Katrina crisis action team director at AFRC headquarters here. "And we have other units standing by or beginning to send people and equipment to areas hit by the hurricane."

Two AFRC units took the brunt of the hurricane's impact Aug. 29. Heavy rains and wind slammed the 403rd Wing and other Air Force units at Keesler AFB, Miss., and flooding swamped the 926th Fighter Wing at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans.

Flying out of Asheville, N.C., a C-130 Hercules from the 403rd Wing returned to Keesler to deliver circuit breakers and related supplies to the base hospital.

The 908th Airlift Wing at Maxwell AFB, Ala., geared up two C-130s and aircrews along with aeromedical evacuation people. Aerial porters from the unit prepared to spend a week helping to move people and cargo.

Another Reserve C-130 unit, the 910th AW from Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, has two aircraft and crews ready to fly relief missions.

In California, heavy airlift people and aircraft from the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis AFB, and the 452nd AMW at March Air Reserve Base prepared to move water rescue teams to Lafayette Regional Airport, La.

C-5 Galaxy aircraft and crews from the 433rd AW at Lackland AFB, Texas, and 439th AW at Westover ARB, Mass., are on alert to support relief efforts.

"We’re supporting an Air Mobility Command tasking with 20 aeromedical crews from around the country," Colonel D'La Rotta said. "And we expect to get more calls for assistance in the days ahead."

Keesler's Hurricane Hunters flew data-gathering missions into Katrina before it made landfall. One day after the hurricane hit Mississippi they launched from Ellington Air National Guard Base, Texas, and St. Croix to track another tropical storm. About half of the 403rd Wing's planes evacuated to Ellington, and about half of the others went to Dyess AFB, Texas, to avoid Katrina.

A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and many of the full-time people from the 926th FW relocated from New Orleans Air Reserve Station to Barksdale AFB, La., in the wake of the hurricane.

All AFRC people assigned to New Orleans and Keesler should check in with their units immediately if they have not already. Those assigned to the 926th FW should call the command post at Barksdale AFB at (318) 456-9233. Beginning tomorrow at 8 a.m., reservists and civilians assigned to the 403rd Wing may check in toll-free at (888) 436-2246, extension 53177.

If unable to reach those numbers, AFRC people can report their current status, whereabouts, or get answers to questions concerning Air Force hurricane operations by contacting the Air Force Personnel Center's Personnel Readiness Center at (800) 435-9941.

For questions that cannot be answered by AFPC, reservists may contact the AFRC headquarters staff at the following extensions by dialing toll free (800) 223-1784: civilian personnel, 71206; personnel readiness center, 71262; family readiness director, 71241; chief personnel, 70390. The AFRC command center, which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, is available at extension 70680. (Courtesy of AFRC News Service)