Rescue Reservists save people and pets from Ike floodwaters

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Paul Flipse
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Air Force Reservists assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing rescued people and pets from the flood waters of Hurricane Ike in a small Texas town Sept. 13.

The reservists deployed from their home station of Patrick AFB, Fla. with two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters and two HC-130P/N refueling aircraft.  In response to calls for help they flew over the town of Nederland, south of Beaumont, and saw it was mostly under water. They quickly circled the city and began rescuing people from rooftops and off flooded roads.  

In all, they rescued 17 people, six dogs and two cats.

Overall approximately 50 Brevard County reservists deployed to the Gulf region Sept. 12 as part of a joint search and rescue unit at Randolph AFB in south Texas. The 920th RW commander Col. Steve Kirkpatrick was tasked to command more than 800 joint-forces personnel staging there with approximately 20 Air Force and Navy HH-60 helicopters and four HC-130s. 

The 920th Airmen have been on standby throughout September as Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna soaked the Gulf and East coasts.  

The Airmen deployed search and rescue (SAR) assets to the affected states prior to Hurricane Ike's landfall.  They are tasked to provide qualified and immediate medical care, while bringing the ability to conduct air refueling, airlift, air-drops of supplies and the ability to hoist people in need out of flooding water.

"Our SAR crews endure specialized training to conduct humanitarian and combat search and rescues," said Colonel Kirkpatrick." We always hope there won't be a need for it. But when there is, we'll do it--and we'll do it well." 

USNORTHCOM coordinates SAR operations with mission partners in accordance with the National SAR Plan and in support of FEMA.

In 2005, wing Airman were a key asset during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Within 34 hours of Katrina's landfall, crews from the 920th deployed to the Gulf region and were the first Air Force responders on scene. Once in place, the unit's rescue professionals sustained 21 days of around-the-clock operations involving 200 wing personnel.

When they were through, wing Airmen were credited with saving 1,043 lives, including 475 people in one day alone (Sept. 1). In all, the Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen of Joint Task Force Katrina saved more than 60,000 lives.