Airmen Support Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts

From an 18th Air Force Public Affairs News Release

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill., Nov. 1, 2012 – Following President Obama’s directive for the federal government to “lean forward” in response to the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy, airmen from across the country are answering the call.

New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgts. Robert Spaulding and Daryl McKinnon, 105th Airlift Wing, arrive at the 105th Force Support Squadron Personnel Deployment Function as part of the New York State response to Hurricane Sandy, Oct. 29, 2012. The airmen are among more than 1,100 Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen deployed at the order of New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to respond to the storm. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Michael OHalloran   (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

Aircraft and crews from 12 active duty, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve bases across the nation were mobilized to arrive at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., where they are slated to pick up approximately 10 passengers and 632 short tons of equipment and supplies to support relief efforts on the East Coast.

The passengers and cargo, including 69 vehicles belonging to the Southern California Edison utility company, are slated to arrive at Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y., at around 2:30 p.m. EST, after which they will support efforts to restore power and provide humanitarian assistance to the region. Media reports have stated that more than two million people still remain without power in the aftermath of the superstorm.

The movement is expected to require the use of five C-5 Galaxy aircraft and approximately 12 C-17 Globemasters. A C-5B from Travis Air Force Base, Calif., and a C-17 from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., were among the first aircraft scheduled to depart March this morning.

The rapid response was made possible through the combined efforts of planners at U.S Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command’s 18th Air Force and the 618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center), operating as part of the U.S. Northern Command-led effort supporting the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s storm response efforts.

Days before the storm made landfall, these same planners had already begun preparations to move personnel and aircraft out of harm’s way -- preserving their readiness to respond after the storm had passed.

Since then, America’s total force mobility team has turned its attention to supporting recovery efforts. To that end, and in response to a Northcom tasking, airmen quickly put together the plan to move personnel and supplies to stabilize and improve conditions in the region.