From College to Crisis Response: My Experience in Hurricane Helene’s Aftermath
When what would become Hurricane Helene was forming weeks ago I would never have anticipated the terrible impact that it would have. During the storm and in the immediate aftermath it became obvious that a massive response was going to be needed to help those affected. As a member of Civil Air Patrol I was qualified and prepared to respond in a variety of ways, so I prepared my equipment, gave my availability, and waited. Waiting for that call to get up and go is one of the most difficult parts, as fellow volunteers know well. In the meantime, I assisted as I could with the wing's mission staff, helping plan and coordinate our resources.
I got the message to pack and meet at Roanoke on October 3rd, I would be supporting as part of one of many aircrews deployed by CAP. In the days and weeks following the storm Virginia Wing, Civil Air Patrol was tasked through Virginia Department of Emergency Management to provide airborne photography to support evaluations of roads, dams, and other infrastructure in the affected counties. CAP aircrews from across the state were mobilized.
These are some photos I took during those sorties, showing some of the debris that remained in the water, on and near bridges and dams, and a local crew working on one of those bridges. I got to work with an awesome CAP mission pilot and a dedicated mission observer from Roanoke Composite Squadron CAP as we worked over Washington County, Pulasi County, and Radford City.
I'm super grateful to the faculty of Liberty University School of Communication & the Arts, whose professors have been flexible with me so that I can serve with CAP, and that I'm able to count this time as my community service through #LUServe. It's not easy to balance college responsibilities with disaster relief, search and rescue, and mission support, but I can't understate how the amazing people at Liberty University help make it happen.
Me and other local CAP members from Lynchburg Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol are staying ready to help further, supporting our shared mission of serving America's communities, saving lives, and shaping futures.
