Crews From Across The Nation Offer To Help
The citizen volunteers of Civil Air Patrol's Texas Wing,
operating from their
new mission base in Houston, are receiving
offers of help from across the nation as they launch dozens of
flights each day to photograph damage wrought by Hurricane Ike.
Lt. Col. Dennis Cima -- commander of Texas Wing's Group 4, which
includes much of the storm-ravaged areas of the Lone Star State --
said about 65 members gathered at the West Houston Airport Thursday
to aid the relief effort. Six CAP aircraft are stationed at the
airport, with four more inbound, he said.
More planes and members are expected to arrive at the mission
base over the next few days as CAP's damage assessment flights
continue for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1st Air Force
and the Texas State Operations Center.
Texas Wing Commander Col. Joe Smith said although CAP members
were among those devastated by the hurricane, they still came forth
to assist. "Everybody's pitching in saying, 'What can I do to
help?'" he said.
"We're Texans and we're proud," said Cima. "We take care of each
other."
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 essential services like
power, water and fuel services. Aircrews have spent much of the
past four days photographing critical infrastructure like roads,
bridges and power lines, assisting state and federal officials who
are working diligently with local officials and private sector
partners to restore these services.
CAP flew 55 sorties, logging more than 130 flying hours, over
East Texas and southwestern Louisiana on Tuesday and Wednesday in
support of the relief efforts. About 30 more flights are planned
Thursday, mostly in East Texas.
As the recovery missions continue, Smith said other Civil Air
Patrol crews from Arkansas, Oklahoma and other wings in CAP's
Southwest Region are poised to pitch in to relieve Texas Wing crews
who have been in the skies above Galveston and other East Texas
coastal communities for nearly a week now.
"All over the country, not just here in the Southwest Region,
crews are ready," said Smith, who has fielded offers of assistance
from as far away as North Carolina. "It makes you feel good that
all these people are wanting to help."