Civil Air Patrol to Perform Critical Missions During Government Shutdown
Maxwell Air Force Base, AL (PRWEB) October 01, 2013 -- Civil Air Patrol, the U.S. Air Force auxiliary, will continue to perform emergency and disaster response missions authorized by the Air Force during the federal government shutdown.
CAP annually participates in 90 percent of America’s inland search and rescue missions and last year conducted more than 50 disaster relief operations, including damage assessment flights during recent Colorado flooding, the Oklahoma tornadoes and Hurricane Sandy. In addition, CAP saved 32 lives in 2012 while conducting 700 search and rescue missions, nine of which were attributed to the expertise of CAP’s cell phone forensics and radar experts.
“The Air Force depends on Civil Air Patrol to perform these critical missions,” said CAP National Commander Maj. Gen. Chuck Carr.
“During emergencies CAP provides FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) and state and local emergency service responders with digital photos of the damage and where help is urgently needed in real time, ensuring a rapid response,” he said. “Our search and rescue services also rely on high-tech tools and technology to produce exceptional, life-saving results.”
Civil Air Patrol, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with nearly 61,000 members nationwide, operating a fleet of 550 aircraft. CAP, in its Air Force auxiliary role, performs 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and is credited by the AFRCC with saving an average of 80 lives annually. Its unpaid professionals also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies. The members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to more than 26,000 young people currently participating in the CAP cadet programs. CAP received the World Peace Prize in 2011 and has been performing missions for America for 72 years. CAP also participates in Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Visit http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com or http://www.capvolunteernow.com for more information.
Contact info:
Julie DeBardelaben – jdebardelaben(at)capnhq(dot)gov – 334-953-7748, ext. 250
Steve Cox – scox(at)capnhq(dot)gov – 334-953-7748, ext. 251
Julie Debardelaben, Civil Air Patrol National Headquarters, +1 (877) 227-9142 250, [email protected]
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