Virginia Air Guard responds to Florida storms

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephen Hudson
  • Florida National Guard Public Affairs
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AFPN) --  Nearly 50 Virginia Air National Guardsmen responded to hurricane relief efforts in Florida, making it the first time their unit has deployed to Florida for a natural disaster.

The 203rd Red Horse Squadron from Virginia Beach deployed to assist in the clean-up efforts after Hurricane Frances and wound up staying through Hurricane Ivan as the storm hit Florida.

The Airmen moved into the Pensacola Regional Airport here to begin cleaning debris from the airfield so relief supplies could begin pouring in. This mission is nothing new for the unit that came home from an Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment in October 2003. There, they rebuilt damaged runways, removed debris and built aircraft hangars.

“This is ideal for us,” Lt. Col. Paul Julian said. “This is what we do in a wartime scenario.”

Colonel Julian said he surveyed the damage with the airport manager. Getting the roads open was a top priority after the hurricane with sustained winds of 133 mph and gusts of 165 mph caused damage, he said.

After Hurricane Frances, the Airmen worked in Bradford County in southeast Florida to remove downed trees and to open roads. Now they are in Escambia County working to get the airport open.

Tech. Sgt. Jimmy Kidd with the 203rd said people in northwest Florida have been “coming up and thanking us.”

People were even more impressed when they found out the unit is from Virginia, he said.