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    Civil Air Patrol supports flood response efforts in South Carolina

    South Carolina National Guard flood response

    Photo By Senior Airman Ashleigh Pavelek | Aerial photo of the damage at the Columbia Canal and dam destruction in Columbia,...... read more read more

    COLUMBIA, SC, UNITED STATES

    10.08.2015

    Story by 1st Lt. Stephen Hudson 

    South Carolina National Guard

    COLUMBIA, S.C. – As South Carolina responded to what has been called a historic rain event that caused seriously flooding, the Civil Air Patrol has been an active part of the total team response effort.

    “We are integrated in a support role,” said Col. Francis H. Smith Jr., South Carolina Wing commander and incident commander for the flood relief efforts on behalf of the Civil Air Patrol.

    Smith added the Civil Air Patrol provides aircraft which can fly “low and slow” to provide imagery and do search and rescue missions. The wing’s incident command staff is working with the state’s Emergency Operations Center in West Columbia.

    “We give verbal reports (real time) back to people that need it, and we are taking a lot of imagery here,” Smith said.

    One mission they are prepared to begin is to take communication repeaters on their flights to take over for towers that are not working.

    Since the flood response began, Civil Air Patrol units from Maryland, North Carolina and Georgia have arrived in South Carolina to assist. The Civil Air Patrol is an all-volunteer force.

    “What we are doing right now is trying to make sure help gets where it needs to,” Smith said.

    When conducting missions for the Air Force as the official Air Force auxiliary, the Civil Air Patrol is now included in the Air Force’s definition of the total force. Civil Air Patrol has provided 74 years of support to emergency services, aerospace education and cadet programs.

    In August 2015, the Air Force updated Doctrine Volume 2, “Leadership,” expanding the Air Force’s descriptions of total force and Airmen to now consist of regular, Guard, Reserve, civilian and auxiliary members.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 10.08.2015
    Date Posted: 10.08.2015 17:14
    Story ID: 178510
    Location: COLUMBIA, SC, US

    Web Views: 462
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN