NEWS: Iowa CAP responds, flies senators over disaster area

From left, Sen. Tom Harkin and Sen. Chuck Grassley were flown over flood-ravaged Iowa by CAP Capt. Kim Kirschman to view the disaster area.

IOWA – The Civil Air Patrol's Iowa Wing flew Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley over several cities affected by recent flooding, providing the lawmakers with a birds-eye view of the damage. The senators were able to see the impact of the flooding in Ankeny, Mason City, Charles City, Nashua, Waverly and Des Moines.

"As I traveled across north central Iowa, I was struck by the magnitude of damage throughout the state and of the families who continue to struggle to recover from this terrible disaster," said Harkin. "I am thankful the Civil Air Patrol was able to help with today's tour. I am going back to Washington, D.C., to work to ensure that immediate relief is provided to these families."

"The extent of the damage is mind-boggling," said Grassley. "My fellow Iowans can rest assured that relief is on the way."

“This was an important job for the Civil Air Patrol,” said Capt. Kim Kirschman, mission pilot who transported the senators across the state. “We were able to meet their needs on short notice."

The 80 of 99 counties declared disaster areas by Iowa Gov. Chet Culver are eligible for special aid, including loans and grants. Flooding has forced the evacuation of several areas across the state, including hospitals and retirement homes.

The Cedar River overflows its banks in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Photos courtesy of Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and CAP Iowa Wing

Iowa Wing has supported the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division over the past two weeks by providing digital photographs of flooded areas. The images have been used to assess the extent of the floods and the damage they caused.

The dynamics of CAP's mission have changed from general photo reconnaissance to focusing specifically on critical infrastructure in affected areas.

"Photos from the CAP flyovers provide local responders with information that helps them make decisions based on potential flooding, said Joyce Flinn of Iowa's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. "Partnership with Civil Air Patrol has provided us with a valuable resource that provides essential information in both response and recovery."

The Iowa Wing has flown 15 missions and delivered approximately 900 photographs supporting HSEMD along with the National Weather Service.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 103 lives in fiscal year 2007. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counterdrug missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the nearly 22,000 young people currently participating in CAP cadet programs. CAP has been performing missions for America for more than 66 years.


By CAP National Headquarters Public Affairs


Click here for updates from CAP about the Iowa floods.