EVAC: the Emergency Volunteer Air Corpssm |
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Emergency Response Guidelines Page Special Update - Hurricane Gustav Relief Efforts: Many pilots and others asked what can be done to support the relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Now Hurricane Gustav is in the news. Most EVAC volunteers are in the West thus not as directly involved given the distance. However with the help of EVAC the Air Care Alliance has compiled some useful information and links. Since 1990 EVAC has encouraged other Air Care Alliance
groups to develop emergency service programs and has provided useful information
to that end. Most groups now have such programs, some quite well
developed. We
urge all who can help to contribute to this effort, and you may well be able
to help a group located closer to the relief efforts by looking through the
Air Care Alliance listings at www.aircareall.org.
Send an email listing your interest, qualifications, and equipment available
to all groups in your area or the area of the relief efforts. Also please read the
information available on the ACA News Page at: Please also read the information below. 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. SPECIAL
NOTICE: Emergency Response Guidelines All the members of the Emergency Volunteer Air Corps extend our condolences to the thousand of victims and families devastated by the hateful terrorist actions of September 11, 2001. We encourage all volunteers to consider how they may assist in alleviating the problems and suffering caused by the attacks and to prepare so as to be most effective during the next emergency situation. ABOUT HELPING - We have received inquiries from individuals and groups about how they can help during crises. We are aware now of more than two hundred emergency relief and related flights flown in support of Red Cross and various agencies by volunteer pilots of nonprofit groups, plus a large additional number flown by the volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol. If you wish to help, please 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 public benefit flying groups will have an emergency services coordinator who can provide information. The Civil Air Patrol has been very involved in providing its resources in response to this situation, too, and is often very aware of local response efforts. General information about any impacts of a crisis on the aviation system itself can usually be found at AOPA's main page - http://www.aopa.org. Please check that page often. 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 local emergency management agencies. See the FEMA "How You Can Help" page. Also see the note about FEMA below. During the first days 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 Helping.Org - see their useful "You Can Help" page. Note: it is best to do this BEFORE the next major emergency occurs, but do not hesitate to see if there is a need at any time.. If you wish to volunteer your services as a pilot or other volunteer to an aviation organization, in addition to contacting us as indicated below please see the complete list of volunteer flying organizations maintained by the Air Care Alliance at http://www.aircareall.org. Many of these groups have emergency service or medical transport programs which may be needed. During the 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 "Compassion" call sign procedures, found on the Air Care Alliance website. You can learn about volunteering to help these groups by visiting the "Volunteers" page of the site. In addition, AOPA indicated following 9/11 that those who wished to offer volunteered aircraft directly to FEMA for possible use should send a short FAX to FEMA at the following number (FAX ONLY) 202 501-1439. This number may or may no be in effect during future events. If you send a fax to it be succinct and specific about what you have available and where you can fly. Include a description of the aircraft, where it is located, and contact information. Please note, however, that during an emergency FEMA tends to be overloaded with offers of help. Most who are actually asked to fly missions do so through the various flying organizations in the Air Care Alliance listings - groups like the Civil Air Patrol and EVAC. We urge you to volunteer and fly with listed groups Please investigate a number of organizations flying in your area and offer your help to them. If you choose to organize a group of pilots to help, please feel free to use our abbreviated operations manual available on this site. We also recommend you download and use the AOPA Air safety Foundation manual - "Volunteer Pilots - Recommendations for Enahance Safety." Click here to obtain the PDF file. 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 --- Please EMAIL
US if you have additional information or comments about relief flights or
news articles relating to the 9/11or other emergency situations. |
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