An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Reserve rescue crews aid Katrina victims

  • Published
  • By By Heather L. Kelly
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Answering a call for help, Air Force Reserve Command’s 920th Rescue Wing here responded to one of the most dangerous storms in U.S. history.

Members of the unit deployed to Jackson, Miss., Aug. 30 to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The crews are joining the Air National Guard’s 172nd Airlift Wing and working in conjunction with the Coast Guard and other disaster response teams in the region.

“We’ve deployed three HH-60G helicopter teams and two additional crews to do what we do best, and that’s saving lives,” said Col. Tim Tarchick, 920th RQW commander.

While the mission calls for wing members to provide FEMA support through Sept. 2, the crews will stay longer if needed, Colonel Tarchick said.

Much like the rest of the area, the facilities housing the operation are without power and possess limited communications. The initial phase of the mission involves setting up a command and control center and evaluating the situation. Crews will work around the clock in 12-hour shifts to ensure they are ready at a moment’s notice.

Unlike combat search and rescue, humanitarian rescue missions pose unique challenges.

“We may not have people shooting at us, but the danger still exists,” said Maj. Brent Baysinger, a unit helicopter pilot. “Under normal circumstances, we can identify flying hazards on a map. But in a situation like this, where the landscape has been completely ravaged, the risks involved are greater.”

Although all crewmembers are trained and equipped to handle those risks, the job of jumping into perilous situations and hoisting victims to safety falls to the wing’s pararescuemen.

In addition to being highly skilled divers, precision parachutists and fully combat qualified, Air Force pararescuemen are all certified paramedics. Training that plays an invaluable part in rescue operations.