Mission Report
Mission #07C6437
August 24, 2007
Flood Risk Assessment
Submitted by Capt Kim Kirschman
Due to
heavy rains and the resulting risk of flooding, assessment missions
were flown on Thursday, August 23, and Friday, August 24.
On August
23, Lt Floyd Temeyer and I, accompanied by Maj Perkins
of the Iowa National Guard, used CPF1316 to fly the Des Moines River
from a few miles north of Ft. Dodge to the highway and railroad bridges
west of Boone. Lt Temeyer took many photos during the flight,
and sent some of the photos directly to the SEOC via the RACOM network
(using slow scan equipment). Electronic copies of all photos
taken during the flight were given to Maj Perkins at the end of the
flight as he needed them for an immediate briefing at the SEOC.
Total flight time was 2 hours.
On August
24, Capt Matt Smith, and Lt Marty Robey and I used
CPF1316 and the slow scan/RACOM combination to return more photos to
the SEOC. This time, the route flown was along the Des Moines
River from Ottumwa to Keokuk. Automated river level readings
indicated a very high risk of damaging flooding, but the photos showed
no significant flooding or risk of near-future flooding. That
information permitted authorities to cancel planned evacuation orders.
Total flight time was 5.1 hours.
The
weather both days was questionable early on. Planned departure
times were pushed back to allow ceilings to rise in the target areas.
IFR flights were necessary both days to reach airports in the
target area, but once in place ceilings were adequate to allow the
missions to be completed.
In addition to the Des Moines air crew, Maj Doug Jansen served as IC, Lt Norma
Newton and Lt Col John Hawkinson worked in the SEOC, Capt Gary Aho from
DAV and Lt Ryan Pfeiffer from DBQ were tasked to fly as high bird, Capt
Terry Keohn and crew from CID were tasked with additional photography
and a transport flight, Lt Chuck Brudtkuhl was a mission-saver with
comm relays from home when CPF1316 was unable to establish workable
comm with the SEOC, and I coordinated air operations
The photos returned to the SEOC were well received by the Guard and other authorities.
