Relocation Will Expedite Damage Assessment Flights
Civil Air Patrol's Texas Wing has moved its Hurricane Ike
mission base to Houston, making it easier to launch flights to
photograph storm damage in Houston, Galveston and other parts of
East Texas.
"We're standing up the West Houston mission base today," said
Wing Commander Col. Joe Smith, explaining that the move from San
Antonio will expedite CAP's aerial damage assessment missions for
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1st Air Force and the
Texas State Operation Center.
CAP's assistance was necessary after Ike made landfall early
Saturday, damaging thousands of homes and businesses along the
Texas and Louisiana coasts and knocking out electricity to more
than 2 million customers.
Some coastal communities lack essential services like power,
water and fuel, making them uninhabitable. Until those services are
restored, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has urged about 30,000 residents
currently in shelters to remain there until local officials have
deemed it safe to return home.
Digital images already taken by CAP's aircrews, who logged
nearly 80 flying hours on Tuesday, are helping expedite the
recovery. The photos of critical infrastructure, including roads,
bridges and power lines, assist state and federal officials who are
working diligently with local officials and private sector partners
to fully restore essential services to coastal communities.
"Local, state and federal officials can go to a University of
Texas Web site where we upload our photos, select their county and
see pictures of damage in their hometowns," Smith said.
John Salvador of CAP's National Operations Center, located at
Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala., reported CAP aircrews
flew 35 sorties over East Texas and southwestern Louisiana on
Tuesday in support of Hurricane Ike relief efforts. Members from
both the Texas and Louisiana wings returned to work today and are
scheduled to make 36 flights. According to Salvador. federal and
state taskings are expected to continue for the next several
days.
CAP's Hurricane Ike mission base is located at the West Houston
Airport, in a hanger used by Texas Wing's Thunderbird Composite
Squadron. By Thursday morning, CAP will have 10 planes and about 65
members at the Houston base, putting aircrews much closer to the
East Texas communities ravaged by Ike.
Before Wednesday, aircrews were flying from San Antonio... more
than 180 miles from the new base in Houston.