Rescue Wing weathers the storm
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Airmen from the 920th Rescue Wing here reported for duty Friday, Aug. 22 after being directed to shelter at home most of the week while Tropical Storm Fay drenched the base and surrounding area with record-breaking rainfalls. Weather officials from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station said Patrick AFB received an off-the-charts 23.81 inches of rain. Rescue wing Airmen were affected in more ways than one because in addition to their military positions as Air Force Reservists here, they hold regular civilian jobs and live in and around the local community. At one point during the week, the storm stalled overhead causing flooding which delaying approximately 70 Air Force Reservists who were scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan Thursday. Standing water remains in many areas throughout the base especially around the tarmac as rescue wing maintainers unmoored the HC-130P/N Hercules aircraft Friday morning to prepare them for their missions. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Capt. Cathleen Snow)