Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Report by Neil McMillin via email and Clif Brochman by cell phone
Photos by Robert Heinz
What a difference a day makes. The day started a little slow, but it definitely got more exciting later on.
The river was down, marginally, and the weather was holding cold and dry. Runoff into the Red River and the flow of the water was somewhat reduced according to the media reports.
We began radio watch at 0700 from the hotel. At 1010 we received a call from one of the helicopters asking if we had any tasking for them. After conferring with the LT in charge, we advised them there was no current activity.
With both communications teams in the same hotel, we set-up a combined coms team. We brought the 35’ mobile base antenna on Chuck Woodward‘s truck close to the building and ran the antenna wire up through an open window to increase our range. Then we remained on standby monitoring channel 22A.
It was a long quiet afternoon, but suddenly at 1620 we received a phone call from Bob Sm
ekta at the Fargo Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requesting tasking for one of the helicopters. An elderly North Fargo resident, who had recently undergone heart surgery, needed a medevac hoist and transport to an area hospital. The home was surrounded by water with no dry road access. Using digital maps and GPS coordinates, the Auxiliary communications team was able to provide the pilot with visual landmarks to help guide the helicopter to the correct location. From there the helicopter was able to basket lift the resident from an open boat in the back yard into the helo for transport. While the helicopter was en route to the hospital, the AUX communications team contacted the hospital by phone and let them know that a Coast Guard helicopter was on its way and needed access to the heliport.
No sooner was the first mission completed, the team received an additional request from EOC for a helicopter to pick up and transport three adults. One of the three was an elderly gentleman who had previously had a stroke and they were requesting medical evaluation. The Auxiliary communications team once again helped guide the helo to the location and relayed pertinent information to the EOC and the Hector International Airport where the helicopter set down and rendezvoused with emergency ground vehicles.
The Coast Guard brought out seven people and one dog today via helicopter or airboat.
Our teams worked well together and the last three hours of our day flew by as we got to put our years of training to good purpose. It was a good day.
Report by Neil McMillin via email and Clif Brochman by cell phone
Photos by Robert Heinz
What a difference a day makes. The day started a little slow, but it definitely got more exciting later on.
The river was down, marginally, and the weather was holding cold and dry. Runoff into the Red River and the flow of the water was somewhat reduced according to the media reports.
We began radio watch at 0700 from the hotel. At 1010 we received a call from one of the helicopters asking if we had any tasking for them. After conferring with the LT in charge, we advised them there was no current activity.
With both communications teams in the same hotel, we set-up a combined coms team. We brought the 35’ mobile base antenna on Chuck Woodward‘s truck close to the building and ran the antenna wire up through an open window to increase our range. Then we remained on standby monitoring channel 22A.
It was a long quiet afternoon, but suddenly at 1620 we received a phone call from Bob Sm
ekta at the Fargo Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requesting tasking for one of the helicopters. An elderly North Fargo resident, who had recently undergone heart surgery, needed a medevac hoist and transport to an area hospital. The home was surrounded by water with no dry road access. Using digital maps and GPS coordinates, the Auxiliary communications team was able to provide the pilot with visual landmarks to help guide the helicopter to the correct location. From there the helicopter was able to basket lift the resident from an open boat in the back yard into the helo for transport. While the helicopter was en route to the hospital, the AUX communications team contacted the hospital by phone and let them know that a Coast Guard helicopter was on its way and needed access to the heliport.
No sooner was the first mission completed, the team received an additional request from EOC for a helicopter to pick up and transport three adults. One of the three was an elderly gentleman who had previously had a stroke and they were requesting medical evaluation. The Auxiliary communications team once again helped guide the helo to the location and relayed pertinent information to the EOC and the Hector International Airport where the helicopter set down and rendezvoused with emergency ground vehicles.
The Coast Guard brought out seven people and one dog today via helicopter or airboat.
Our teams worked well together and the last three hours of our day flew by as we got to put our years of training to good purpose. It was a good day.
# posted by SO-PA : 10:23 PM
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