Travis stands ready to provide relief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristen Rohrer
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Travis Airmen remain ready to assist the relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean after the storm made landfall on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Aug. 21. 

In the case of a natural disaster, such as Hurricane Dean, most of the personnel sent from Travis to the affected region would be from the 60th Aerial Port Squadron, the 615th Contingency Response Group and the 60th Medical Group. 

If needed, the 60th APS and 615th CRW will send equipment to the affected region to include vehicles, forklifts, k-loaders and any other material handling equipment necessary to unload and transport needed supplies. 

"It really depends on the airfield or airstrips that are available and what condition they are in," Tech. Sgt. Jack Lindberg, 60th APS, said, regarding the appropriate equipment to send. 

Currently, the 60th APS has not deployed anyone in support of the hurricane relief efforts, but did an inspection for the 615th CRG before they deployed vehicles and personnel to the affected area. 

During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the 60th APS and 615th CRW deployed cargo and personnel to Louisiana to provide relief for thousands who lost homes during the storm. 

"We deployed supplies after Hurricane Katrina and after the tsunami in December 2004," Sergeant Lindberg said. 

Along with the 60th APS and the 615th CRW, six members from the 60th Medical Group deployed in support of Hurricane Dean as well. 

The medical personnel are members of the Critical Care Air Transport Team - a flying critical care unit. 

Members from the 60th Medical Operations Squadron and the 60th Inpatient Squadron deployed to Texas in anticipation of supporting medical operations from Hurricane Dean. 

The CCATTs have not only helped transport wounded U.S. Soldiers and Airmen from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, they were also involved in humanitarian missions involving Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. 

"Our CCATT teams were ready and deployed on short notice as they did for Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," stated Lt. Col. Lewis Martin, Medical Readiness Flight commander. 

"We remain ready to deploy right away, as soon as we are needed," Sergeant Lindberg said.