Ill Winds: Air Force Reserve's Response to Hurricanes

Technical Sergeant Keith Berry looks down into flooded streets searching for survivors. He is part of
an Air Force Reserve team credited with saving more than 1,040 people in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina. He is a pararescueman (PJ) with the 304th Rescue Squadron from Portland IAP
ARS, OR. (USAF photo by Master Sergeant Bill Huntington) 23
31 Aug 05 At 2300L Air Mobility Command’s Tanker Airlift Control Center
(TACC/XOPA) requested ground aeromedical evacuation teams
consisting of Mobile Aeromedical Staging Facilities, 15 personnel;
Aeromedical Evacuation Command and Control Packages, 5 personnel;
and Mobile Aeromedical Evacuation Staging Facility Augmention pkg, 11
personnel for Louis Armstrong International Airport (LAIAP). The
tasking also included a Crew Management Cell consisting of 6 personnel
for staging at Lackland AFB, TX, at 2300L.
31 Aug 05 The 920 th RQW deployed 3 HH-60s to Jackson, MS, flying multiple
FEMA missions until 0500. Forty-nine personnel deployed to Jackson,
MS. 24
31 Aug 05 The 939 th Air Rescue Wing (ARW) transported PJs and HH-60 crews
from Portland, OR, and Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, to Jackson, MS.
31 Aug 05 The 439 th AW flew two C-5 shuttle missions from March ARB, CA, to
Lafayette, LA, Regional Airport transporting 8 Swift Water Rescue
teams. 25
23 Photo and caption (U), MSgt Bill Huntington, “A PJ’s Night in New Orleans,” USAF photo, n. a.,
available at http://www.af.mil/photos/media_search.asp?q=katrina&page=5 on 8 Nov 05.
24 Bfg (U), HQ AFRC/DOOM, “Hurricane Katrina Deployment Plan,” 1 Sep 05.
25 Bfg (U), HQ AFRC/DOOM, “Hurricane Katrina Deployment Plan,” 1 Sep 05.
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