TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- Canadian Forces officials deployed three aircraft in support of Air Forces Northern humanitarian efforts during Hurricane Gustav.
A CC-177 Globemaster from Trenton, Ontario, deployed to New Orleans to assist in the evacuation of people from hospitals and rest homes in the path of the major storm.
Two CC-130 Hercules from Winnipeg, Manitoba, deployed to Pensacola, Fla., to assist with search and rescue operations in the wake of Hurricane Gustav.
"We are always willing to help and are happy to do so, the same way the Americans would help us," said Brig. Gen. André Viens, deputy commander of the Continental United States NORAD Region here. "We take great pride in working shoulder-to-shoulder to save lives."
Lt. Col. Stephen Flanagan, an Air Forces North Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer, deployed to Lakefront Airport to assist in the evacuation of people from hospitals and nursing homes.
"The first gusts of wind came in as the last planes were taking off," said Colonel Flanagan, who was on the runway until the airport closed at 7 p.m. Sunday. "If it weren't for (the Canadian aircraft), we would still have had patients on the ground when the first of the heavy winds came in."
Air Forces Northern and U.S. Northern Command officials work closely with those in Canada, an important mission partner, to provide search and rescue assistance, expedited by the recently signed civil assistance plan.
"The Canadians volunteered one of their CC-177s to facilitate the evacuation, which demonstrates a true unity of effort with our international partners," said Colonel Flanagan. "Without their participation, our mission would not have been as successful as it was."
