In the aftermath of Hurricane Lowell, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green requested military assistance to transport specialized utility vehicles from the Big Island, Hawaii, to Kauai, Hawaii, to help address continued widespread power outages, Sept. 12-13.
The 15th Wing executed the airlift, an interagency effort that included the U.S. Pacific Command, the Air Force, the Hawaii National Guard and the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency.
Power outages began as Hurricane Lowell approached Kauai, Sept. 7. By 6:40 a.m. the next day, approximately 36,000 residents across the island were without electricity.
"I simply decided that we had to do everything possible to shorten the time to recovery, and partnering with the military and utilizing our National Guard on the ground has been a major addition to our state and county efforts," Green said.
Utility trucks originally relocated from California to Hawaii after Tropical Cyclone Lala were loaded onto two C-17 Globemaster IIIs assigned to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam on Oahu, Hawaii, and flown to Kauai to restore essential services.
On the ground, War Department emergency preparedness liaison officers and Hawaii National Guard members received the equipment. The airlift augmented support from the 74 guard members currently providing ground support in the wake of the storm.
Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Logan, state adjutant general, said he feels extremely fortunate to be so close to U.S. Pacific Command and the Pacific Air Forces, which enable a rapid response and unity of effort in times of crisis.
"We are committed to continuing support for our community members without power in whatever way we can," said Air Force Col. Kyle Clinton, 15th Wing commander. "Supporting those that support us in times of emergency is why many of us chose to serve."
These consolidated partnerships across the War Department and state agencies enable nearly real-time synergistic response capabilities to natural disasters across the Hawaiian Islands.
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