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New emergency plan increases proactive national response

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Collen McGee
  • 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Emergency response plans in America have changed since 9-11 and the 2005 hurricane season. Air Force reservists, including some members of the 433rd Airlift Wing here, play a part in those plans.

On a national level, Air Force Reserve individual mobilization augmentees in each state advise Air Force base commanders and state and federal civil organizations about what capabilities the Air Force has available in each area.

For most natural disasters in the nation, civilian response agencies have what they need to respond. Their response may include military units, such as Air National Guard units in their states. Guard units fall primarily under the authority of each state's governor but may be federalized under the authority of the president during national disasters.

Unless asking for a Guard unit, governors in affected states must declare a state of emergency and request that the president declare their area to be in a state of emergency before a military agency can respond to a local or regional disaster or incident.

The Stafford Act mandates part of that procedure, guaranteeing sovereignty to each state. The other part of that procedure opens up federal emergency response funding.

"After a Presidential Disaster Declaration, then there is government funding available," said Michael Studdard, deputy director of the Air Force National Security Emergency Preparedness Agency.

But even after a PDD is declared, the military doesn't immediately get a call.

"The Federal Emergency Management Agency has pre-existing contracts for many emergency services," said Lt. Col. Tim Plunkett, an emergency preparedness liaison officer with the AFNSEP. "But, when FEMA can't provide the services, then the military is asked. One thing they can't contract for is airlift."

Airlift capability became essential during the three major hurricanes of the 2005 season. Members of the 433rd AW and other Lackland AFB units found themselves working with airlift wings from all over the country.

"Terrorism is a way of life now," said Mr. Studdard. "Natural disasters are too, and they are going to occur anyway. Hurricane Katrina was a watershed event for us."

The lessons learned from Katrina helped formulate a new National Disaster Response plan. This plan means that states don't have to wait for a PPD to ask for airlift and it allows military units to actively engage in the emergency plans of their civilian community neighbors.

Mr. Studdard explained that at all levels of the Air Force, installations are engaging with the communities outside their gates to come up with formal mutual response plans for events like fires, pandemics and hurricanes and that the aide can flow both directions.

For San Antonio's Air Force Reserve Command wing it means the neighborhood extends all along the Gulf Coast.

"We're planning and we're practicing," said Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Christa, 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron readiness manager.

Chief Christa and other members of the 433rd AES began regularly training with emergency responders in Gulf Coast area communities like Lake Charles, La., the most populated city in that region.

"They (civilian responders) are going to train with who they are going to fight with - fight against the loss of American lives," said Chief Christa.

"Emergencies are a lot alike; they become like wars," said Mr. Studdard. "It's almost like a wartime mission in that it's something that we cannot fail."

Plans for war include training time to get all players working together smoothly and confident in each other's capabilities.

By planning and training together, a bridge of trust between military and civilian agencies is built in much the same way it is within the Air Force.

"We're bringing that confidence that we are going to be there when they need us," said Chief Christa, who helped draft an initial version of the Gulf Coast response plan.

He explained two phases of disaster relief operations military members could be asked to assist with.

"If it is a pre-emergent request then we'll be light lean and moving fast," said Chief Christa, explaining this capability was what his unit employed before Hurricane Rita reached the community of Beaumont, Texas.

"The post emergent is heavy in response, bringing capability in and rebuilding and relieving," said Chief Christa.

For the Gulf Coast plan, the 433rd AW is one of the first military units that civilian relief agencies might turn to if they need immediate airlift.

"The first aircraft we look at is the C-5 because of the capability, and it has this huge retro capability," said Chief Christa.

According to Chief Christa, the C-5 is not the primary choice for a light and lean type of operation but the performance of the 68th Airlift Squadron from Lackland AFB, during the pre-Rita evacuations showed the capability of the giant airlifter.

"The C-5 proved it could be used for pre-emergent response - with 100 percent reliability - but that was a last resort situation," said Chief Christa.

On a level closer to home, the 433rd Medical Squadron is working on a training agreement with San Antonio's South West General Hospital scheduled to begin in May 2007. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)