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The crew of Dolphin Helicopter HH-6575 describe their flood relief operations in North Dakota
3/30/2009 11:52:00 AM
Q: What has brought the U.S. Coast Guard to Fargo, North Dakota?
A: The Coast Guard Air Station in Traverse City was tasked by our district to help support the flood relief efforts in response to the Red River floods.
Q: What kind of operations have you been participating in since you arrived in Fargo?
A: Our first flight was area familiarization where we took up a FEMA representative and we also took Army Corps of Engineers representatives to survey some of the area and the pre-flooding and to watch the relief efforts that were already being made.
Q: Can you tell me about some of the rescues you have participated in since you have been here?
A: After our first flight we were tasked to fly south of the Fargo area to assist six people who were stranded. They were no longer able to leave their homes and boats were unable to arrive on scene to rescue them, so we were able to hoist them into the helicopter and take them to safety.
Q: How many people have you rescued today (March 26, 2009)?
A: Today we hoisted 15 people to safety. We conducted three different sorties, search and rescue evolutions, out of here and in the Fargo area I would say it was all within a ten mile radius and pretty much focused centrally around the southern Fargo area. We picked up four people in our first sortie – two adults, an 8-year-old girl and then a 78-year-old man. In our second sortie we picked up 11 people and brought them to safety.
Q: As the pilot, what is it like while you are in the air during this type of situation?
A: The conditions are very similar to Air Station Traverse City. The temperature and the snow accumulation that they have had here, especially with periods of reduced visibility due to snow showers, are very familiar to my crew. Now, being familiar with the area and working with the air-traffic controllers here, we have been able to successfully carry out the Coast Guard’s mission here.
Q: How long do you expect the Coast Guard to carry out these operations in North Dakota?
A: That is an excellent question. I don’t have an answer for that because I have been keeping up with the media as far as how the river is rising and I am not sure when it is going to crest out completely. We will definitely be here until the safety of the residents of North Dakota is ensured.
Interview with Lt. Brendan Evans, co-pilot of HH-6575, by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Blackwell
Q: Have you ever seen anything like this before?
A: Except for on the news, I’ve never seen anything like this before.
Q: As the co-pilot, what is it like being in the air while you pull people out of harm’s way?
A: It’s exciting. There is a lot going on, but I am mostly concerned with doing my job correctly. Upholding the Coast Guard standards and procedures and doing it safely is my priority. As the co-pilot, I’m the safety pilot.
Interview with Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Wheeler, rescue swimmer of HH-6575, by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Blackwell
Q: Can you explain the process of rescuing someone from the air?
A: Usually a position comes from someone on scene or someone close to being on scene so we can actually mark a geographic location. Once we establish a visual contact, we go into the rescue check. We see what the best option for the rescue would be. We look for trees, power lines, overhangs, eves, any structure that might hinder the hoist cable or pose a danger during the rescue. We try to find the widest open space whether it be the courtyard, the roof, the porch, and then I’ll initially go down on the cable and make sure the people are put in a safe place while I tell them the procedure for getting loaded into the helicopter and the order in which a number of people will go up – of course women and children go up first and one at a time. Once the basket is on deck we place them inside, tell them to keep their appendages in the basket and keep their head down when they are hoisted into to helicopter. Once they are in the helicopter, the flight mechanic, Kevin, makes sure they are safe inside the helo. The crew here is awesome.
Q: Other than being exhausted, how do you feel at the end of the day – after rescuing so many people?
A: I definitely feel a sense of accomplishment. It’s nice to actually be able to use the tools we’ve been given to conduct a rescue of this proportion and do it successfully, so I am pretty satisfied.
Q: Have you ever seen anything like this before?
A: Not like this. I’m used to localized flooding, being from Ohio, but nothing of this magnitude.
Q: At the end of the day, how do you feel about the work you’ve done?
A: I feel good about it. I’m just doing my job. My job here is to help people and get them out of distress. I feel real good about it.
View video of the crew of HH-6575 rescuing six people on CGVI or YouTube.
