Duke Field aids relief efforts after hurricanes

  • Published
  • By Maj. Beena Maharaj
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. (AFPN) --  Duke Field picked up a new mission after Hurricane Ivan passed through northwest Florida with 140-mph winds and deadly tornadoes that caused billions of dollars of damage and at least 18 U.S. deaths.

Duke Field became a logistical staging area for 40 people from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and about 500 people from the Florida Division of Forestry, Southern Area Incident Management Team, Florida State Emergency Response Team and Florida National Guard.

"The winds from Ivan had barely died down when people started arriving in droves with initial needs for lodging, food, communication equipment and a place to work," said Master Sgt. Keith Free, 919th Special Operations Wing facilities manager. "With hurricane damages, power outages and few personnel on hand, we … had folks in every work space possible, but we pulled everything together within hours."

The logistical staging area is the storage point for food, ice, water and other commodities before they are shipped to various distribution points in the area. The flightline spaces where MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft used to park now have hundreds of tractor-trailers filled with supplies ranging from baby food to bug spray.

"This is an opportunity for us to help our community in a time of great need," said Col. Mark Kyle, 919th SOW commander. "We are committed to providing the best possible support to make this humanitarian mission a success."

Besides reservists here offering infrastructure support, National Guardsmen are essentially the arms and legs of the operation. They are providing security and handing out much-needed supplies at various locations throughout the Florida panhandle.

Since operations began, more than 7.2 million pounds of ice, 655,000 gallons of water and 307,000 packaged meals have been distributed.

"We know that the relief effort is never fast enough for the survivor who is suffering," said Charles Henderson, a FEMA representative. "However, we can assure people that progress is being made. Relief money is not only in the pipeline but on the streets."

People in charge of the relief operations said they expect to be on the job until the end of October or early November. (Courtesy of Air Force Reserve Command News Service)