By Tom Latek
Kentucky Today
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard are in Texas, aiding rescue and recovery efforts from catastrophic Hurricane Harvey.
Fourteen Airmen are among those deployed, where they will comprise two Personnel Recovery Teams. They all have expertise in swift-water rescue, confined-space operations and emergency medical care. Equipment they brought to aid in hurricane recovery operations including inflatable motor boats.
Four more Airmen will operate a Special Tactics Operation Center.
“These Airmen are some of the most dedicated and professional special operators in the entire United States Armed Forces,” said Col. David Mounkes, commander of the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rdAirlift Wing. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they work to assist residents who have been stranded by Hurricane Harvey and the historic flooding in Texas.”
The Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron has extensive experience in hurricane rescue and recovery. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, members established and operated a helicopter landing zone on a highway overpass in New Orleans where they helped evacuate 12,000 people.
It is not known how long the deployment to Texas will last. The 18 Airmen are staging at Robert Gray Army Air Field at Ft. Hood, Texas, while they await orders.
They departed the Kentucky Air Guard facility at Louisville International Airport Sunday night, aboard one of the unit’s C-130 Transport planes.
Meanwhile, other volunteers are on hold. They’ve been asked to wait for water to recede before going to Texas.