More than meets the skies

By Capt. Arthur E. Woodgate
Texas Wing- Civil Air Patrol

August 24, 2007 11:21 am

— Earlier this week, the Texas State Operation Center (SOC) held its last state-wide conference call concerning Hurricane Dean.
At that time, having confirmed that Hurricane Dean would bypass Texas, the state proceeded to begin demobilizing its complex emergency deployment. As a precautionary measure, emergency workers continued to man a reduced force to take care of any emergency.
The Texas Wing of the U.S. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) also began shutting down operations, a process that will take some time as aircraft and other assets are returned to their normal duty locations, personnel are fully accounted for, and an after-action review discloses what went right and what could have gone better.
Many of the staff members working this storm were veterans of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. From the relative chaos of Katrina, to the often “at cross purposes” efforts of Rita, what came through during Hurricane Dean was evidence that there was a much better understanding of the mission’s requirements, willingness to cooperate in the interest of the mission, and a keen intent to smooth any friction before it started, officials said.
While during Rita some liaison between federal and state agencies had been bumpy, in the past few days it was seamless and effective, Lt. Col. Jack Jackson, Texas Wing vice commander and the Hurricane Dean Task Force’s liaison officer to the SOC said. “The one thing that truly impressed me was how well everyone worked together. It was hard to tell who was a professional and who a volunteer. They all supported each other to the fullest extent, and the work got done.”
Had Hurricane Dean hit Texas, CAP volunteers of all ages – and proficient in many emergency specialties – would have been ready to provide whatever support they were tasked with. As was the case with Katrina and Rita, the aftermath of the storm is where “the hands” are needed the most. In the past, the ability to take care of the evacuees, assess the damage, search for and aid victims, and report on overall conditions have made a significant impact in the quality and speed of recovery. Future interventions are expected to present the same challenges.
Radio-telephone communications are usually the first casualty of a large wind-driven storm. CAP was ready to supplement radio transmissions through the use of “high bird” aerial re-transmitters. This equipment can greatly extend the distance a radio signal can reach, getting the message out to where help can be provided.
Newer equipment, now becoming available, will be able to replace downed cell phone towers as well. At the day’s end, CAP had readied itself to aid the stricken and help in the recovery process, becoming a viable asset in the struggle.
The U.S. Civil Air Patrol was founded on Dec. 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II.
CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide.
CAP performs 95 percent of inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and was credited with saving 59 lives in 2006. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program.
For more information, go to www.cap.gov