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VOL. 116 NO. 44 |
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FRIDAY
November 2, 2012
MARSHALL UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER | MARSHALLPARTHENON.COM
U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO BY TECH SGT. EUGENE CRIST
Semitrailer trucks filled with Federal Emergency Management Agency food, water and supplies line up to enter the FEMA supply and sustainment area on Thursday at the 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston. The West Virginia National Guard has over 400 members aiding in storm relief efforts from Superstorm Sandy which blanketed the state with heavy snow and rains.
W.Va. National Guard provides aid By STAFF SGT. SHANE ARRINGTON
130TH AIRLIFT WING PUBLIC AFFAIRS West Virginia National Guard soldiers and airmen are working alongside personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide supplies and asssistance to those effected by Superstorm Sandy. Tractor-trailers from the Federal Emergency Management Agency rolled onto the 130th Airlift Wing’s FEMA staging area at 7 a.m. Thursday. Airmen from the 130th worked throughout the night to ensure the space was ready for FEMA’s arrival. “We transformed from an air base to a trucking terminal,” Col. Jerry Gouhin, 130th Airlift Wing commander said. “We dedicated part of our ramp and flightline area for their tractor-trailers.” Gouhin said the separation of FEMA equipment and 130th aircraft is essential because the mission of the 130th must go on as normal. “Nothing stops or gets put on hold,” Gouhin said. “We still have our regular mission, still have people deployed and are preparing for our Operational Readiness Inspection so we must pick up the extra work and run with it.” The soldiers and airmen on-site are working 12-14 hour days to ensure mission success. Lt. Col. David Rabel, FEMA ramp coordinator officer-in-charge, said many of the service members who volunteered to be activated by the state also supported relief efforts after the June 2012 derecho that left more than 450,000 homes without power across West Virginia. “The experience from June makes things a lot easier this goround,” Rabel said. “Attitudes around the staging area are great. We have people who have left their civilian jobs and school to come here and give their time to helping those in need.” Major General James A. Hoyer, West Virginia adjutant general also commented on the dedication of the soldiers and airmen working the storm relief. “Members of the West Virginia National Guard have been on duty since before the storm,” Hoyer said. “Not only do we have airmen and soldiers on duty out in the communities bringing relief to the citizens of West Virginia but we also have guardmembers at both air wings who have worked hard to turn their bases into staging areas for FEMA supplies. This is a testament to the type of diverse missions we in the West Virginia Guard can accomplish at a moment’s notice.” Rabel said guardmembers unloaded and pushed out 60 pallets of food, water and supplies within the first four hours of FEMA’s arrival. He said besides food and water, FEMA is also providing hygiene kits and toddler packs for those with children. Shane Arrington can be contacted at arrington16@marshall.edu.
ABOVE: Lt. Col. David G. Rabel, 130th Airlift Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, directs a semitrailer truck to the FEMA supply and sustainment area on Thursday. LEFT: Soldiers with the 1257th Transportation Company, West Virginia Army National Guard, set up tents on Tuesday. U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTOS BY TECH SGT. BRIAN STEVENS
American Red Cross opens shelters, supports relief efforts By LAKIN TURNER
THE PARTHENON As soon as Superstorm Sandy came to an end, disaster relief began along the path of the storm, from the East Coast to the West Virginian Mountains. The American Red Cross is one of the organizations providing relief and helping to meet victims’ immediate emergency needs. Shelter, food, health and emotional health services are the basic services
the Red Cross provides communities nationwide. Some of these services are being provided a little closer to home because of Superstorm Sandy, which dumped heavy amounts of snow in the West Virginia mountains. Katie Bender, American Red Cross spokeswoman, said the Red Cross is working directly with communities in West Virginia to make sure that the immediate needs of individuals and families affected by the storm are being met.
“The night of Oct. 30, 80 people stayed in 15 different Red Cross shelters and 35 people stayed in 11 shelters that were operated by partners of the Red Cross. There are also shelters on stand-by in case the need arises in the coming days,” Bender said. Red Cross shelters were open in Monongalia, Berkeley, Greenbrier, Jefferson, Kanawha, Morgan, Preston, Putnam, Taylor and Wyoming counties. There are about 200 people working to support the Red Cross in West
Virginia, but there is a need for more volunteers in the state. “The need for volunteers is high because of the number of volunteers needed along the East Coast,” Bender said. “We are asking people to check with their local Red Cross office to see how they can help,” Nationally, more than 1,700 disaster relief workers from all over the country have mobilized to support the storm relief efforts. A local company is also helping with relief efforts. Appalachian Power has
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provided a donation to support the local Red Cross chapters in the storm relief. Bender said the greatest need right now is blood donations and financial support. Students at Marshall University can help in disaster relief. Although because of classes students are unable to travel to the different relief sites, Bender said students could volunteer at the local Red Cross chapter on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Huntington.
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page designed and edited by SHANE ARRINGTON arrington16@marshall.edu