Rescue Wing gears up for Tropical Storm Fay

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The 920th Rescue Wing here has taken precautionary measures to protect its personnel and equipment in preparation for Tropical Storm Fay as it heads northbound through Florida from Puerto Rico and the Florida Keys.

Due to the present status of the storm only mission essential personnel are permitted to report for duty Tuesday, August 19.  If you have not been previously advised of this status, please shelter in place.  

Wing aircraft and equipment have been secured and stowed safely into hangars here.

Wednesday, August 20 is expected to be a normal duty day, but Wing members should call the 920th information hotline for the most up-to-date information at 1-866-920-WING, ext. 42218.

For individuals presently identified in the current path of Tropical Storm Fay please take all precautionary actions. All members are reminded that if you are affected by any directed evacuations, please follow identified actions for reporting.

Over the weekend, eighty percent of entire wing was notified through an electronic notification system which was implemented over the past year and relies on individuals to keep their personal information up to date through the base recall roster.
The notifications are one way of getting important information out to wing members to assure wing members and their families are safe and its equipment and vehicles are secure.

"As a rescue wing, we are always ready to go at a moment's notice. We are trained to be flexible and are leaning forward to keep our members and their family's safe and to prepare to do what we train for everyday, rescue and recovery," said Col. George Pierce, 920th Maintenance Group Commander.

The 920th Rescue Wing is one of the most called upon units in the Air Force Reserve. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina which devastated the Gulf region in September 2005, the wing was responsible for getting more than a thousand people to safety.

The 920th Rescue Wing is the only reserve rescue wing in the U.S. Wing members continually deploy in and around the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism and other contingencies. The wing's primary mission is combat search and rescue, but it also provides recovery support for space shuttle and rocket launches as well as humanitarian calls for help.