Civil Air Patrol’s South Carolina Wing continues responding to Hurricane Helene’s destruction through relief efforts in the air and on the ground, performing missions that have evolved from initial requests for aerial photography from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the South Carolina Emergency Management Division.
Beginning Oct. 1, CAP members took to the skies in the days following Helene. Members from not only the South Carolina Wing but also the Florida and Pennsylvania wings conducted nearly 30 flights providing damage assessment photos for FEMA. The federal agency received more than 1,500 standard images and multiple-image composites despite challenges presented by weather, a Presidential Temporary Flight Restriction, and large-scale imagery-uploading challenges.
Within 48 hours of beginning the response to the FEMA request, the state Emergency Management Division tasked the South Carolina Wing to photography missions over designated targets of interest sometimes different than those identified by FEMA.
In addition, Scott Krien, Oconee County Emergency Management director, flew with aircrews to gather over 75 images of an extremely rural county with limited resources and capabilities.
“The opportunity to see the damage from the air was valuable to the relief effort,” Krien said. “Seeing the extent of the damage allows for a more efficient allocation of resources to get where they need to be.”
Yet another tasking enabled the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assess damage in 28 counties using the aerial vantage point.
On the ground, members from the Spartanburg and Sumter composite squadrons have joined as many as 77 members from the North Carolina and Maryland wings in assisting at points of distribution locations in Asheville, North Carolina, since Oct. 12.
Members have worked at up to seven distribution sites in 12-hour blocks, some camping at local FEMA facilities. Stacy Dunn, a representative from the Department of Homeland Security, praised the cadets she saw working in Asheville for “wanting to help in any way possible,” adding that “a lot of great leaders I see out there.”
Members from the Sumter squadron remained overnight during the weekend and will return home upon completing 72 hours of service to the Asheville community.
As Week Three of the Helene response, more than 70 South Carolina members stand ready to assist in North Carolina or Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton. Ongoing briefings and requests for assistance from neighboring wings or CAP’s Southeast Region are being reviewed by the wing’s incident command team. _____2nd Lt. Heather Hill-JarnaganPublic Affairs OfficerGrand Strand Composite SquadronSouth Carolina Wing
Maj. Rachael J. MercerAssistant Public Affairs OfficerSouth Carolina Wing
