Civil Air Patrol Provides FEMA and the Louisiana Governors Office of Emergency Preparedness Damage Assessment of Hurricane Isaac

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New Orleans- The Louisiana Wing, Civil Air Patrol (CAP) members put a sense of duty to their country, state and local communities before their own personal needs in the aftermath of hurricane Isaac. They responded immediately to requests from the Louisiana Governors Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOHSEP) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide aerial damage assessment imagery to aide in recovery efforts by both agencies.
CAP’s assigned mission following the passage of Isaac was to provide both high and low altitude photographic images that were GEO tagged with location, date and time. These images allow disaster recovery managers to identify specific locations where they can quickly bring their resources to bear so as to save lives and minimize damage and suffering.

During the week following Hurricane Isaac, seven CAP aircraft were pressed into service. Their aircrews flew 56 mission sorties (flights) and provided over 1,340 high resolution photographs for analysis and action by FEMA and GOHSEP personnel. CAP ground teams assisted the American Red Cross with over 450 man hours of damage assessments.

When natural or man-made disasters occur, the U S Northern Command stations an Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer (EPLO)at key FEMA and state emergency operations centers. His or her duties are to provide Air Force support to these agencies and local civil authorities. The EPLO working with these agencies in Louisiana, Lieutenant Colonel James Hunter, greatly facilitated CAP’s contribution to the recovery effort.

Without stopping for a break, CAP’s Louisiana Wing moved directly from its Hurricane Isaac response action into a previously planned training exercise as it continued to hone its skills and capabilities to respond to arising needs of the nation, state and local communities.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S.inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 54 lives in fiscal year 2011. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to nearly 27,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet program. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 70 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S.military veterans. Visit www.gocivilairpatrol.com or www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.