8/8/2019 08_06_16_CAP Flies US Senators Over Iowa Flood Damage

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CAP Flies US Senators Over Iowa Flood DamageHarkin, Grassley Pledge Relief 

Mon, 16 Jun '08http://www.aero-news.net

 The Civil Air Patrol's Iowa Wing flew Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck

Grassley over several cities affected by recent flooding this weekend,providing the lawmakers with a birds-eye view of the damage. Thesenators 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 damagethroughout the state and of the families who continue to struggle to recover from thisterrible disaster,” said Harkin. “I am thankful the Civil Air Patrol was able to help withtoday's tour. I am going back to Washington, D.C., to work to ensure that immediaterelief is provided to these families.”

“The extent of the damage is mind-boggling,” said Grassley. “My fellow Iowans can restassured that relief is on the way.”

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

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

Iowa Wing has supported the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency ManagementDivision over the past two weeks by providing digital photographs of flooded areas. Theimages 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 tofocusing specifically on critical infrastructure in affected areas.

“Photos from the CAP flyover provide local responders with information that helps themmake decisions based on potential flooding,” said Joyce Flinn, of Iowa's Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “Partnership with Civil Air Patrol hasprovided 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 photographssupporting HSEMD along with the National Weather Service.

Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the US Air Force, is a nonprofit organization withmore than 56,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 90 percent of continental USinland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue CoordinationCenter and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 105 lives in fiscal year 2007.