Emergency Response Guidelines Page
Special Update -
Hurricane, Earthquake, and Other Relief Efforts:
SPECIAL GUIDELINES FOR HELPING DURING DISASTERS AND OTHER EMERGENCIES
Updated for the Haiti Earthquake disaster:
This information has been compiled based on prior general aviation volunteer relief efforts following events including the 1989 Loma Prieta and 1994 Northridge earthquakes, 9/11 attacks, Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Katrina, Rita, and Gustav, and the international Tsunami response. EVAC compiled this information in association with the Air Care Alliance.
General Aviation Disaster Relief Information:
The following information provides guidance on how to help. Please read it thoroughly and watch for updates, below, on our main page, and on those of other groups such as AOPA's, EAA's, and those of the aviation media.
Volunteer Pilots - please be sure to download and read the AOPA Air Safety Foundation Safety Guide described below.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW AND WHAT WE LEARNED IN PRIOR RELIEF EFFORTS:
Started on September 12, 2001 and last updated January, 2010
We and the Air Care Alliance received many inquiries from individuals and groups about how they could help following 9/11. We were not initially aware of a large call then for general aviation services for disaster relief, although some groups were being called upon to transport blood or fly other missions, using the LifeGuard authorizations. Demand picked up quickly and ultimately several hundred missions were flown by volunteer pilots over a two week period.
During and following hurricanes and other disasters there will likely be a more widespread call for help transporting emergency workers, supplies, or evacuees.
If you wish to help in a current or some future crisis please carefully read and consider the following guidelines:
First, regarding general aviation participation, please work directly with your own flying organizations to contribute in any pre-arranged efforts coordinated by their local emergency planning agencies.
Many volunteer pilot public benefit flying groups will have an emergency services coordinator who can provide information. The Civil Air Patrol will be very involved in providing its resources in response to this situation, too.
AOPA has collected much useful information for pilots flying relief missions or needing to fly into the affected areas. We expect AOPA to publish updated information regularly, so keep an eye on www.aopa.org and subscribe to AOPA's eNews alerts such as ePilot.
EAA also publishes good coverage of relief efforts involving GA; please subscribe to their eNews alerts and keep an eye on their website.
AVweb has also presented good coverage and useful information on their NewsWire pages found at www.AVweb.com
Individuals should avoid inundating overburdened emergency service workers with calls during emergencies, especially in the affected areas. Try to get your information first from your own groups or from public sources such as local news announcements, especially from local FEMA offices or other local emergency management agencies. See the FEMA "How You Can Help" page.
During the first days of 9/11 the Red Cross coordinated a blood drive, with certain types especially needed. If you are interested, call your local Red Cross chapter or 1 800 GIVE LIFE or 1 888 BLOOD-88 or do a search for a Red Cross web site serving your area.
Another source for suggestions on aiding those in need is the Network for Good.
EVAC has direct active operations only in Southern California and has concentrated its efforts on encouraging other public benefit flying organizations to use what it has learned and to form their own emergency service programs.
If you wish to volunteer your services as a pilot or other volunteer to an aviation organization, please see the complete list of volunteer flying organizations maintained by the Air Care Alliance at http://www.aircareall.org/listings.htm - on the Listings page of the ACA site. Contact groups in your area or areas near the disaster directly, using the information in the listings.
Many of these groups have emergency service or medical transport programs which may be operating. During the 9/11 emergency when airspace was closed the blood missions were being flown utilizing the "LifeGuard" call sign flight procedures designated by FAA. As airspace reopened routine transport missions were flown utilizing the ACA "Compassion" call sign procedures published on this site. Some Angel Flight groups also used the "Angel Flight" call sign, with procedures derived from the ACA's Compassion procedures. Grace flight of Texas also has a dedicated call sign for their operations.
Please note, however, that during an emergency FEMA and other relief groups tend to be overloaded with offers of help. Most who are actually asked to fly missions do so through the various flying organizations in our listings, or for local agencies and social service organizations. Thus we urge you to volunteer and fly with them. Please investigate a number of organizations flying in your area and offer your help to them.
Quite often pilots will find that they can perform missions for their local social service agencies or nonprofit groups in order to help others, and that they can fly into airports that are not restricted. Do follow all pertinent NOTAMS and check the sites above for additional information before flying.
Note: most groups have an orientation and acceptance procedure to get new pilots involved. It is best to join groups and learn about their programs before an emergency. During an actual emergency situation new volunteers can get in the way if they are not careful.
In your haste to help please do not become part of a disaster!
SAFETY FIRST ! Do not allow the urgency of the situation to compromise safety. In fact, pilots should add an extra margin to their own personal minimums to compensate for the pressure to be of help.
The AOPA Air Safety Foundation and the Air Care Alliance collaborated to present safety recommendations for volunteer pilots in the AOPA ASF Guide - "Volunteer Pilots - Recommendations for Enhanced Safety." Obtain a PDF copy of the guide by clicking this link: AOPA ASF Volunteer Pilot Safety Guide.
For those organizations such as volunteer pilot organizations, clubs, and airport associations wishing to help, EVAC - the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps - has provided much useful information including a sample emergency operations guide, on this site. See the Short Guide.
We will update this information periodically so please keep an eye on this site.
Whenever possible please call the listed groups directly to offer your assistance. ACA does not coordinate relief flights. The listed groups do. Pilots who still wish to contact EVAC directly regarding relief questions should use this email address:
Thank you for your interest in using your time and skills to help others!
Background information regarding selected prior events:
2005 Katrina Relief Efforts:
Following the 2005 hurricane disasters EVAC provided information on the Air Care Alliance site for those who wished to help. Hundreds of pilots, working for a number of different groups, pitched in and provided vital transportation services during the aftermath. Information has been provided on the Air Care Alliance website www.aircareall.org. In addition the volunteers were honored with a National Public Benefit Flying Award at the United States Capitol Building.
2004 Tsunami Relief Efforts:
Again, following the 2004 Tsunami disaster EVAC provided information on the Air Care Alliance site for those who wished to help, similar to the information posted above. With the distances involved most U.S. based pilots pitched in to help collect money and relief supplies. Some joined international relief organizations in order to help. The information below may be of use in thinking about how you might help during an emergency.
Attacks of September 11, 2001
There have been a number of stories published about the relief flights flown in the aftermath of 9/11. We worked with the media in preparing some and helped collect information about them. Links to several can be found at the the Air Care Alliance website.
Final reminder - while it is wonderful that folks wish to help following an emergency it is far, far more helpful if volunteers get plugged into relief work BEFORE emergencies occur. If this is not an emergency situation please take some time and learn how you can work to improve our ability to really be of help when it is most needed!
--- END SPECIAL NOTICE ---
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