26 June 2008

Update from Major David Miller, MOWG/PAD

- Main news yesterday was both good and bad. The good was President Bush declared 22 counties in Missouri as federal disaster areas, including Lincoln , Pike, Jefferson , St. Charles , and St. Louis counties and St. Louis city. This will immediately free up federal funds for these counties, as well as FEMA funding for the cleanup. The bad news was the overnight heavy thunderstorms and rain in north Missouri that will prolong and increase the crests throughout the affected areas.

- Twice daily air sorties in support of Lincoln and St. Charles County EOC’s continue. Flights now not flying all the way to the Iowa border but to Louisiana , Missouri , and back. Aircraft remain based at Midwest Aviation Center at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri . With water threatening St. Charles Municipal Airport , the aircraft based there had been transferred to Spirit Airport several days ago. Midwest Aviation has been very gracious and allowed us to house this additional aircraft at their facility at no charge.

- Sandbagging efforts at Winfield base have been stood down by the Lincoln County EOC until 0900 Saturday 28 June 2008. Flooding has now affected their sand pit and they have to obtain sand from elsewhere in the state. This two day stand down will also allow a bit of a rest for the hundreds of volunteers and emergency service personnel. We have released our ground teams temporarily but will stand up Winfield base again this Saturday when sandbagging efforts again resume. Communication center will remain staffed at Winfield, however, to coordinate air sorties with the local EOC requests.

- Lincoln County EOC requested aerial assessment of a possible oil spill north of Foley, Missouri , yesterday. This was confirmed by yesterday’s AM sortie with photos and information immediately sent to the EOC. Lincoln County EOC very pleased. Missouri National Guard liaison at Lincoln County EOC noted that our photos are some of the best they have ever seen and are interested in doing overlays of our photos over time to show the various stages of flooding of same locations.

- Capt. Greg Medsker (St. Charles Comp. Squadron) and Cadet Ryan Stanley ( St. Louis Comp. Squadron 1) both staffed the St. Charles County EOC all day yesterday, coordinating with the Communication center in Winfield and the aircraft sorties.

- Updates sent daily to the SEMA Situation Report.

- Am now receiving email updates from Mark Rosenblum of the St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council. Today’s update requested assistance with sandbagging efforts for the Elm Pointe levee breach. Info relayed to Lt. Col. Randy Fuller (Wing ES Officer) who is requesting adding this to our current approved mission.

- Lt. Col. Randy Fuller also in contact with other Missouri county EOC’s, including those just listed in the federal disaster declaration, and those downstream of the current flood conditions to input their requests to SEMA for aerial photo recon missions . He is also working with Cape Gireardeau county (south of here near the bootheel of Missouri ) for aerial photo recon of the Mississippi river in their location specifically.

- Am working directly with reporter Jeff Small of KSDK Channel 5 (local NBC affiliate) who wants to do a story on our efforts, including our flood flights. Kudos to Lt. Col. Larry Kuban, Group II Assistant PAO, for helping to set this up.

- Possible search and rescue mission developed late last night when a father and young son fell out of a boat into flood water. CAP personnel immediately on scene to assist if needed, but the two were found quickly without our help. Am greatly impressed by the ability of our members to shift immediately to yet another mission despite being fully committed to flood relief.

V/R,
David

David A. Miller, Maj, CAP
Asst. PAO, MOWG