Mon, Sep 01, 2008
As Hurricane Gustav moves closer to the Gulf Coast of the
United States, Civil Air Patrol members are making preparations to
safeguard CAP assets and preparing to respond to requests for
assistance after the storm makes landfall. Gustav could impact
the gulf states by tomorrow. The storm is projected to move in a
northwesterly direction but it is too early to tell specifically
where landfall will occur.
According to CAP's national commander, Maj. Gen. Amy S. Courter,
the all-volunteer organization is prepared. CAP's National
Operations Center has issued an alert order for wings in the
organization's Southeast and Southwest regions to update resource
lists, aircraft lists and alert rosters, initiate communications
checks and test specialized assets as the storm approaches.
On Friday, CAP's Texas and Mississippi wings were relocating
assets, including planes, vehicles and equipment owned by the
all-volunteer organization. The Alabama Wing was making
preparations as well.
"Alabama Wing has activated a mission command staff and is
identifying aircrew, ground team, urban direction finding (UDF)
team and mission staff members who are available for a one- or
two-week tour after the storm makes landfall," said Maj. John P.
Neil, director of operations for the wing.
"In the meantime, members there are making sure all equipment,
vehicles and aircraft are ready for a possible deployment," Neil
said, adding this includes making sure that 24-hour packs and
aircrew packs are stocked with fresh water, snacks and change of
clothing, all batteries are charged or there are fresh ones for the
radios, DF-units or GPS units, and the aircraft and vehicles are
full.
Capt. Steven Solomon, director of public affairs for CAP's
Southeast Region, said the organization's Florida Wing also is on
the move, directing its Groups 1 and 2 RECON trained members to be
ready, if needed.
The preparations along the Gulf Coast are being made as CAP
encourages its 56,000 members nationwide to observe National
Preparedness Month (NPM) in September. The U.S. Department of
Homeland Security annually sponsors National Preparedness Month as
a nationwide effort to encourage Americans to take simple steps to
prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools.
Throughout the month, the Department of Homeland Security will work
with Civil Air Patrol and other organizations to highlight the
importance of emergency preparedness planning.
According to Courter, CAP is a National Preparedness Month
coalition member, encouraging members and their communities to
participate in NPM's Ready Campaign, which emphasizes four main
focus areas:
- Get a kit.
- Make a plan.
- Be informed.
- Get involved.
"There are many opportunities to participate in National
Preparedness Month, and we encourage all members and their
communities to check out all the tools and ideas available," said
Courter, referring them to the Ready Campaign Web site, www.ready.gov.
More News
Airbus Racer Demonstrator Makes Inaugural Flight Airbus Helicopters' ambitious Racer demonstrator has achieved its inaugural flight as part of the Clean Sky 2 initiative, a corners>[...]
A little Bit Quieter, Said Testers, But in the End it's Still a DA40 Diamond Aircraft recently completed a little pilot project with Lufthansa Aviation Training, putting a pair of >[...]
Line Up And Wait (LUAW) Used by ATC to inform a pilot to taxi onto the departure runway to line up and wait. It is not authorization for takeoff. It is used when takeoff clearance >[...]
Contributing To The Accident Was The Pilot’s Use Of Methamphetamine... Analysis: The pilot departed on a local flight to perform low-altitude maneuvers in a nearby desert val>[...]
From 2015 (YouTube Version): Overcoming Obstacles To Achieve Their Dreams… At EAA AirVenture 2015, FedEx arrived with one of their Airbus freight-hauling aircraft and placed>[...]
Airbus Racer Helicopter Demonstrator First Flight Part of Clean Sky 2 Initiative
See All