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Hurricane relief efforts continue through DAFB and DE National Guard

Dover Air Force Base
Airmen from Dover Air Force Base unload water in Puerto Rico on Sept. 30 following devastation caused by Hurricane Maria.

Dover Air Force Base and the Delaware National Guard are assisting with hurricane relief efforts on Puerto Rico and elsewhere.

A Dover C-17 Globemaster III, loaded with more than 100,000 pounds of food and water is the latest in a series of relief missions from Dover Air Force Base according to DAFB Captain Ashleigh Peck, "We had a C-17 Globemaster III fly to Puerto Rico Friday night. And that was actually the second humanitarian mission they've done since Tuesday. They've been on the road since Tuesday; since then they've gone to St. Thomas and they've gone to Kelly Air Field in Texas, to get more humanitarian supplies and then go out to Puerto Rico."

Captain Peck says ALL Dover Air Force Base mission disaster relief assignments are tasked by Transportation Command in support of FEMA, the lead federal agency coordinating the response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Overall, Dover’s 436th Airlift Wing has transported 1.2 million pounds of cargo and more than 292 passengers in support of hurricane relief and associated support missions.

 

Team Dover’s mission is to provide Rapid Global Mobility anytime, anywhere in the world. For the last month, Dover AFB has been postured to respond at a moment’s notice in support of hurricane relief efforts. Dover AFB will continue to support as long as requested.

“When Team Dover got the call, we answered. If more calls keep coming, we will continue to answer,” said Col. Corey Simmons, 436th Airlift Wing vice commander.

The Delaware National Guard is also involved. Two of its C-130’s and flight crews returned last week following a five-day mission to assist with hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

They returned last week from a five-day mission which saw them fly more than 60 hours to transport 100 personnel and over 50 tons of cargo.

The Guard says the  two crews remain on standby for follow-up missions.

 
 

Kelli Steele has over 30 years of experience covering news in Delaware, Baltimore, Winchester, Virginia, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.