OK Missions?

[KyCAP]

They need the help looking at it on Fox News..   Obliteration.

[Eclipse]

CAP should have been lining up assets and alerting neighboring wings all day today, with key players already enroute and others
making work / family arrangements.

Experience shows that assuming there is a call-up at all, no ones phone will ring until the end of the week at the earliest.

[KyCAP]

CAP should have been lining up assets and alerting neighboring wings all day today, with key players already enroute and others
making work / family arrangements.

Experience shows that assuming there is a call-up at all, no ones phone will ring until the end of the week at the earliest.

Sad but often true..

[Fubar]

Sad but often true..

Are damage assessment photographs an urgent, first-responder type need? I would think their efforts to dig people out is more important to them right now, besides the media is providing an enormous amount of aerial photography right now.

[Eclipse]

Sad but often true..

Are damage assessment photographs an urgent, first-responder type need? I would think their efforts to dig people out is more important to them right now, besides the media is providing an enormous amount of aerial photography right now.

First-off, damage assessment photos are not the only thing we do - we can certainly aid in the rescue and recovery efforts, if only to provide ancillary support, transportation, and infrastructure.

But more importantly, today is Monday, people have jobs, and this will most certainly be a large-scale, long term situation.  The kind of members that we consider our best assets - professionals,
with careers, family, and responsibilities, also need lead time to make arrangements so those things continue while they are away helping others.

Direct experience has shown that CAP will drag their feet on whether to go, and where the resources should come from, call up the bare-minimum they can possibly squeak by with,
expect those people to drive straight through and then work upon arrival.  After about a week of 14-16 hour days, grinding members into the carpet doing 4 jobs, even through there
are members all over the country eager to get involved and available, they will start sending people home piecemeal with no thought to back-filling or replacements.

The hots and cots of logistics will likely be an after thought at best.  BTDT

If you want people to be there on Fri, you need to tell them >TODAY<.

[Fubar]

First-off, damage assessment photos are not the only thing we do - we can certainly aid in the rescue and recovery efforts, if only to provide ancillary support, transportation, and infrastructure.

If the community needs it and we can provide it (and are allowed to by regulation), I hope we do. I'm interested in hearing more about the ancillary support and infrastructure we can provide. Perhaps it's something we should start adding to our training scenarios and requirements, because I'm leafing through the Ground Team task guide and I don't see anything pertinent to tornado response (perhaps you have other ES capabilities in mind). I know you certainly don't want anybody out there sandbagging 

Admittedly transportation was not something I'd thought of. In your experience, does it tend to be air or ground transportation (or both?). Typically who is the customer and who pays the bill? In this type of response, does the Air Force pay and request reimbursement from FEMA, or does the money come VFR from FEMA?

If you want people to be there on Fri, you need to tell them >TODAY<.

Couldn't agree with you more.

[sandite190]

I just got called to go help. I'm in the Oklahoma wing. Our team is leaving Tulsa in four hours.

[bflynn]

I just got called to go help. I'm in the Oklahoma wing. Our team is leaving Tulsa in four hours.

Good Luck.

Semper Vigilans.

[MisterCD]

A message was sent to the OKWG and SWR historians, but I pass on as Chief Historian/National Historian that all the CAP personnel participating in the response to the tornado save any and all documents, emails, photographs, artifacts, names, and personal histories pertaining to their work over the coming days and perhaps weeks. The national history program may be restaffing at the moment, so I ask that members assist their respective CAP historian to ensure CAP's work is well-documented and their contributions to alleviate suffering known to be documented to inform and educate the overall membership and nation for years to come.

[Critical AOA]

I am certain that one is allowed to help out in these situations as an individual if one feels the calling.  There is no need to sit around and wait for CAP to call you if you truly want to help. 

[RiverAux]

A message was sent to the OKWG and SWR historians, but I pass on as Chief Historian/National Historian that all the CAP personnel participating in the response to the tornado save any and all documents, emails, photographs, artifacts, names, and personal histories pertaining to their work over the coming days and perhaps weeks. The national history program may be restaffing at the moment, so I ask that members assist their respective CAP historian to ensure CAP's work is well-documented and their contributions to alleviate suffering known to be documented to inform and educate the overall membership and nation for years to come.

If you actually want mission paperwork saved you probably need to work on CAP's horrible records retention policy. 

[RiverAux]

Direct experience has shown that CAP will drag their feet on whether to go, and where the resources should come from, call up the bare-minimum they can possibly squeak by with,
expect those people to drive straight through and then work upon arrival.  After about a week of 14-16 hour days, grinding members into the carpet doing 4 jobs, even through there
are members all over the country eager to get involved and available, they will start sending people home piecemeal with no thought to back-filling or replacements.

Sorry thats your experience, but at least in my Wing if we're requested we're usually there as soon as the weather clears and we can fly. 

[MisterCD]

A message was sent to the OKWG and SWR historians, but I pass on as Chief Historian/National Historian that all the CAP personnel participating in the response to the tornado save any and all documents, emails, photographs, artifacts, names, and personal histories pertaining to their work over the coming days and perhaps weeks. The national history program may be restaffing at the moment, so I ask that members assist their respective CAP historian to ensure CAP's work is well-documented and their contributions to alleviate suffering known to be documented to inform and educate the overall membership and nation for years to come.

If you actually want mission paperwork saved you probably need to work on CAP's horrible records retention policy.

I cannot solve every problem, but I believe you can either sit around and complain about an issue, or try to be proactive and at least do what you can to make a positive difference.  The history that is not saved may very well be your own.  Every member can do something.  Whether they opt to pass the buck or try to help is their own choosing.

[Eclipse]

Direct experience has shown that CAP will drag their feet on whether to go, and where the resources should come from, call up the bare-minimum they can possibly squeak by with,
expect those people to drive straight through and then work upon arrival.  After about a week of 14-16 hour days, grinding members into the carpet doing 4 jobs, even through there
are members all over the country eager to get involved and available, they will start sending people home piecemeal with no thought to back-filling or replacements.

Sorry thats your experience, but at least in my Wing if we're requested we're usually there as soon as the weather clears and we can fly.

River, that's not just "my experience", nor is it ancient history, we did this exact thing with Sandy.

[jimmydeanno]

CAP should have been lining up assets and alerting neighboring wings all day today, with key players already enroute and others
making work / family arrangements.

Experience shows that assuming there is a call-up at all, no ones phone will ring until the end of the week at the earliest.

I've seen numerous emails coming across several wing mailing lists, facebook alerts, etc., from many of the SWR wings requesting that those who are able to assist put their name on the list.  So, CAP is preparing for something...what that is, who knows?

[RiverAux]

Direct experience has shown that CAP will drag their feet on whether to go, and where the resources should come from, call up the bare-minimum they can possibly squeak by with,
expect those people to drive straight through and then work upon arrival.  After about a week of 14-16 hour days, grinding members into the carpet doing 4 jobs, even through there
are members all over the country eager to get involved and available, they will start sending people home piecemeal with no thought to back-filling or replacements.

Sorry thats your experience, but at least in my Wing if we're requested we're usually there as soon as the weather clears and we can fly.

River, that's not just "my experience", nor is it ancient history, we did this exact thing with Sandy.

And you're comparing apples to oranges.  While it is a federally declared natural disaster it is orders of magnitude smaller than Sandy.   This is a fairly typical sort of potential mission for CAP while the Sandys, Deepwater Horizon, and Katrinas are the exception.  I wouldn't expect this to require more CAP resources than a typical SAREX. 

Now, if OK is more involved and called upon more for ground-based disaster response than the normal CAP wing, then yes you might need to be looking at a multi-state CAP response depending on what they've got locally.

[Eclipse]

^ You're right.  I went and looked at the damage affected area, it's horrible, but pretty localized.  Mostly likely OKWG can handle it themselves or with help from direct neighbors.

The frustration is because we all join to help and serve, and a lot of times can't because we can't get out of our own way.

Hopefully CAP can have a positive impact here.

[NCRblues]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

[cap235629]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

So is Arkansas

[NM SAR]

I'm in New Mexico; we're standing by for word from (presumably) the IC in OK as to when and if they need a GT from NM.

[Fubar]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

What's a limited Ground Team?

[NCRblues]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

What's a limited Ground Team?

They aren't sending everyone and the kitchen sink, just select people. GBD GTL IC ext ext.... Looking for ppl with more than just ges apparently

[Fubar]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

What's a limited Ground Team?

They aren't sending everyone and the kitchen sink, just select people. GBD GTL IC ext ext.... Looking for ppl with more than just ges apparently

Ahh, gotcha. Safe travels to all....

[RickRutledge]

We're there. And it's HUGE. FEMA tasked us with a massive undertaking yesterday late afternoon, meanwhile we'd been there all day supporting in multiple different ways. We had boots on the ground within an hour of the tornado.

http://www.capvolunteernow.com/todays-features/?cap_aircrews_ground_teams_documenting_okla_tornado_destruction&show=news&newsID=16639

http://www.koco.com/news/oklahomanews/Recovery-operations-under-way/-/9844008/20245890/-/10wther/-/index.html

[EMT-83]

Amazing interview - nicely done.

[That Anonymous Guy]

Outstanding job Captain and everyone else out there. Everyone stay safe and I hope you can leave things a lot better where you found them.

[Fubar]

That guy should give classes on being interviewed on live TV. Fantastic!

DOH: Just noticed "that guy" is the one that posted the interview. Bravo sir!

[Luis R. Ramos]

Captain-

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Flyer

[♠SARKID♠]

AFRCC has a few more pics on their Facebook page as well.
https://www.facebook.com/AmericasAOC

[desertengineer1]

(The following is NOT an official release - just a observation and historic text based on what I know now - it does NOT contain OPSEC sensitive information)

Yep.  We were in Ozzie's diner going through a couple of small mission taskings on Tuesday, wondering if they were going to call us for more (they weren't calling us for much, and we were kind of thinking they didn't want us or at least talking that things were appearing slow) - but we made sure they knew we were ready.  We had an AL and IC at the EOC working directly with the state ops center.  They were passing us calls for initial air sorties and misc support requests as they developed.

Then we got the call on the FEMA mission - all damaged or destroyed properties photographed with geo-tagging (GPS metadata).  Initial info was that this was easily going to be 5,000+ structures!  OK, now it is going to get busy.

We spent several hours in the diner making what seemed to be a hundred or so calls to different folks to get the staff spun up.  An EXCELLENT relationship with the Oklahoma National Guard made it possible to set up MB at the new reserve center.  The missions started rolling from there.

Comm has been excellent due to the nice tactical repeaters.  They set one up on the roof of the reserve center with a magnetic mount antenna on the elevator shaft and it is flawless so far (The 17.5 mile X 2 mile area also helped a bit - it is small).  Most of the teams can hit the repeater with handhelds in most of the hard-hit areas.  Barring that line of sight, the EFJ mobile units have been 100% beyond that.  In the event we really need to expand, we have an air repeater on standby, but don't expect to use it.  Net control is running from a handheld down in the staff room.  We track the teams as they are outbound and returning, and also pass individual requests as needed to/from the mission staff folks.

Planning was a rather big task.  We had to obtain satellite / Google maps of the damage path, then draw out individual sectors for GT photo taskings.  I got a set of Google Earth images with the NWS damage path KMZ file to get us started, then passed a request for city maps to Moore and OKC.  The next day, Moore sent us an EXCELLENT GIS map with damage path overlay, followed by street level maps of OKC's hit areas.  We started breaking out GT photo sectors for individual sorties on those, numbered sequentially, and then transcribed each one over to individual task request forms, which went to the ground teams in folders - complete with camera checklists and a camera shot of the hand-drawn sector on the wall map.  When I left MB this afternoon, the count was about 100 individual ground sorties to capture the most heavily hit areas. We still have a bit more to go.

After the first day or so, National sent us a contingent of cameras, so we were able to multiply the GT deploy rate accordingly. 

We still have the beginning (SE OKC) and Ending (E OKC) areas to get on task requests.  The challenge now is that many of our teams from surrounding states are going home, and those of us who have been on staff since the onset are going to have to get back to our employers Tuesday.  We're calling in reinforcements from units around the state to try and take the rest of it.  In addition to more cameras, camera operators have gotten very proficient with the methods and equipment, so the sector rates accelerated to a good level yesterday and today.  Wing Commander made another call out to units around the state for GT back-fill.

The initial funding amount is being eaten at a steady rate - almost all fuel cost so far.  As we've learned in past FEMA missions, they usually cut us off when either the time or funding limit is met.   Not sure when the limit will be hit, but we will continue to give it 100% until that time.  The problem here is that if we deploy teams in from surrounding states, the money is gone very quickly.  They really didn't give us much (relatively speaking), so we have to watch the costs closely.  Teams coming in from other states are much more expensive than local squadrons - hence our plea to the local-wing units that have not participated yet.  Being the first time in the fray of an operational mission staff in a large effort, this is a HUGE learning curve for me.  I didn't have a full appreciation of how critical finance tracking was until now.  Because of the relatively small amount they gave us, we have to watch it down to the dollar.

MB staff is working on the AAR tomorrow to capture the major successes, challenges, and lessons learned.  We want to make sure we get a good set of lessons learned.  Everyone understands that this is a mission we'll probably have more of in the future, so it is critical that we get it archived as accurate as possible.

Overall, I'm confident that we'll be able to get the mission done.  The amount of data flow is astronomical, and we are learning that a separate "data cell" to collect and upload the photo sets from each sector is an absolute necessity.  Same for managing the cameras and collecting/downloading the camera images.  There are several individuals who have got this down to a science.

I don't have words to describe how fulfilling it is to see so many extremely professional members working together here.  It's a machine absolutely amazing to watch.  When an issue appears, you see a group of people gather around a table to tackle it.  No egos.  No arguing.  Everyone has a say in the discussion.  It's a team effort.  After only a few minutes, you see a lot of hands moving around the maps, a lot of head nodding, and then hear the voices hit a tone of agreement of the solution.  The team solution appears celebrated by smiles, and then everyone turns to go make it happen.  Even in combat deployments I didn't see this NASA-like level of efficiency and professionalism. 

I can't think of a time I've been more proud to be a CAP member.

[desertengineer1]

Oh, and I vote Capt. Rutledge as our distinguished PAO of the year.  He represented us extremely well.

[EMT-83]

Thanks for the update. Collecting and uploading photos was a bottleneck during the Sandy mission. You simply can't process all those photos with an air card or DSL connection.

[dogden]

I spent 5 days working there, we brought up about 25 folks from Texas wing. It started a little slow but once everyone had the rhythm of the sorties, we got a lot of work done in very little time!

It was a good mission.

[Eeyore]

It was great having your help sir, I hope to work with you again. Hopefully, not under the same circumstances.

[CFI_Ed]

I spent 5 days working there, we brought up about 25 folks from Texas wing. It started a little slow but once everyone had the rhythm of the sorties, we got a lot of work done in very little time!

It was a good mission.

We appreciated all of the help from Kansas, Arkansas and the guys on the other side of the Red River. :clap:

[desertengineer1]

I spent 5 days working there, we brought up about 25 folks from Texas wing. It started a little slow but once everyone had the rhythm of the sorties, we got a lot of work done in very little time!

It was a good mission.

We appreciated all of the help from Kansas, Arkansas and the guys on the other side of the Red River. :clap:

Seconded!  :clap:

[JeffDG]

I spent 5 days working there, we brought up about 25 folks from Texas wing. It started a little slow but once everyone had the rhythm of the sorties, we got a lot of work done in very little time!

It was a good mission.

We appreciated all of the help from Kansas, Arkansas and the guys on the other side of the Red River. :clap:

What, is that some sort of "the State that shall not be named" thing going on there?

[Eeyore]

Kind of, it's the Red River Rivalry and it spans the entire year, not just game day.

[Luis R. Ramos]

For the benefit of the uninitiated I post it here.

I had to know!

I did not know!!!

You did not post...

...who were they!!!!!

The Oklahoma Sooners and The Texan Longhorns!

For both teams, may the best one win!  :clap:  :clap:  :clap:

Football games between University of Oklahoma and University of Texas at Austin. According to the Wikipedia, it goes back to a game held in 1900 when OK was a territory. I have not finished reading it. It was known as The Red River Shootout, then was changed to The Red River Rivalry at the behest of the politically correct.

Now I know!

I am not uninitiated anymore...

Flyer

[dogden]

I do not claim to support the school over in Austin! Gigem Aggies!!!!

Does this make me more welcome to our neighbors to the north?

[ARandomCadet]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

Such as mine, we had a couple people from our GT sent up there. I'm not on it, but went up there two days later. It wasn't as bad as the news showed it, but the news was only showing Moore. I was working in Bethel Acres wich is across a lake from Moore and got hit the day before the Moore tornado.

[ARandomCadet]

Just FYI Texas and Kansas wing are sending limited GTs to Oklahoma

What's a limited Ground Team?

They aren't sending everyone and the kitchen sink, just select people. GBD GTL IC ext ext.... Looking for ppl with more than just ges apparently

They were sending people with at least the GES qualification, I know because they sent my squadron.