A little on aerial resources for Irma recovery

I am not here to blog on the recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma's destructive path through Florida. If you landed here in the immediate hours or days after Hurricane Irma hit Florida then I leave you to your devices to find local TV and newspaper coverage. This is not an extensive list, but over the last couple of days I have referred to:

• CBS Miami
• NBC Miami
• Miami Herald
• Tampa Bay Florida News
• WLRN South FL Public TV and Radio
• FL Keys News

My interest today is in the use of aerial resources to get to the Florida Keys, which as many of you may know from the media coverage many areas of the keys are without cell phone coverage, land line phones, water, sewage, and  electricity. As I write this, Monroe County officials have not opened the Overseas Highway (Route 1) to the public and it will be awhile before that highway is opened. Only first responders and other essential personnel, National Guard, and Utility workers are allowed down the highway. Yesterday, I wondered about the use of aerial resources as I knew that two ways into the Keys are by air and by sea.

Florida Governor, Rick Scott was on a C-130 to get his first look at the extensive damage to the Florida Keys according to this article from the FL Keys News. As I understand that middle and upper section of the keys had the most extensive damage.

I got my answer when I saw this article on the FL Keys News about massive airborne relief mission to the Keys using C-130s and helicopters, some from the Mississippi Air National Guard with personnel, equipment and supplies.

I know that this post is sketchy because I don't really have much more information on these aerial relief missions. I do know from this post from Monroe County (covers the Keys) Facebook page that the runways at Key West Naval Air Station and Boca Chica Field, Boca Chica Key about four miles from Key West, FL It seems that helicopters will be the first in followed by the Cargo Planes (C-130s later).

And yes, speaking of help from the sea, there will soon by a US Airforce carrier off of Key West followed by a couple of naval vessels to assist (see this post from Monroe County (covers the Keys) Facebook page for more information.

Updated Tuesday, September 12, 2017, 9 AM

Later last night I found some press releases from the U.S. Department of Defense News website. They had the three news stories, all dated September 11th that pertain to aerial relief missions to Florida and the Caribbean impacted by Irma.

US Army deploys almost 10,000 troops, trucks and generators and at least six aircraft
New York Guard sending Aircrews and Blackhawk Helicopters (some with with hoists)
U.S. Northern Command positions military assets including aircraft
DoD Special Report with photos on Irma relief missions (accessed on September 12th at 9AM)
Photos

September 12th, 3:15 PM

A DoD report incorrectly stated that there may be evacuations of 10,000 people from the Keys. That statement in the report (that I have hopefully since deleted) is not correct per Monroe County FL (covers the Keys).