2004: Duke Field staging area helps storm victims

  • Published
  • By Maj. Beena Maharaj, Midnight Express - October 2004
  • 919th Special Operations Wing
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  (Editor's Note: This story is republished as a historic tribute to the 919th Special Operations Wing's Midnight Express newspaper, which goes out of print beginning this month.)

After "Ivan the Terrible" passed through northwest Florida with 140 mph hurricane winds and deadly tornadoes that caused billions of dollars in damage and at least 24 U.S. deaths; Duke Field picked up a new mission. 

Late Sept. 16, Duke Field became a logistical staging area for the 40 members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and about 500 people from the Florida Division of Forestry, Southern Area Incident Management Team, Florida State Emergency Response Team and Florida National Guard. 

"The winds from Ivan had barely died down when people started arriving in droves with initial needs for lodging, food, communication equipment, and a place to work," said Master Sgt. Keith Free, 919th Special Operations Wing facilities manager. "With hurricane damages, power outages and few personnel on hand, we canvassed the base and had folks in every work space possible, but we pulled everything together within hours." 

The logistical staging area is the storage points for food, ice, water and other commodities before they are shipped to various distribution points in the area. The flight line spaces used to park MC-130E Combat Talon I aircraft went to hundreds of tractor-trailers, filled with supplies ranging from baby food to bug spray. 

"This is an opportunity for us to help our community in a time of great need," said Col. Mark Kyle, 919th SOW commander. "I am proud to host the relief effort, and we are committed to providing the best possible support to make this humanitarian mission a success." 

In addition to Duke Field reservists offering infrastructure support, the National Guard personnel are essentially the arms and legs of the operation. The troops are providing security and handing out much-needed supplies at various locations throughout the
Panhandle. 

Since operations began, 7.2 million pounds of ice; 655,000 gallons of water, and 307,000 meals ready-to-eat have been distributed as of Sept. 21. 

"We know that the relief effort is never fast enough for the survivor who is suffering," said Charles Henderson, FEMA representative. "However, we can assure people that progress is being made. Relief money is not only in the pipeline but on the streets."
People in charge of the relief operations believe they will be on the job until the end of October or early November.