Texas Wing Prepares for Hurricane Harvey Aftermath

Texas Wing Prepares for Hurricane Harvey Aftermath

Damage, Flooding Assessment Photo Flights Assigned

Lt. Col. Johanna Augustine

Public Information Officer

Texas Wing

The Texas Wing has begun preparations to provide aerial and ground support for the state of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency as severe weather continues from Hurricane Harvey. 

Hurricane Harvey slammed the coast of Texas as a Category 4 hurricane Friday night, leaving a trail of mass destruction along the coast. Rockport and Corpus Christi took the brunt of the storm as high winds and rain pummeled the coastal communities.

As Harvey moves northeast, Houston and surrounding areas have received an unprecedented amount rainfall in the past 24-hours and are expected to receive additional 15-25 inches of rain.

The state of Texas has tasked the wing with taking photos of the damage and flooded areas along the coast. Additional tasking of ground teams may be requested to deactivate emergency position indicating radio beacon locator transmitters on boats damaged during the storm.

Col. Sean Crandall, Texas Wing commander, has asked members to check their equipment and be prepared to start flying as early as Wednesday. Mission activities will coincide with preparation for Civil Air Patrol’s National Conference this week at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter, so a temporary incident command post will be set up at the hotel.

Rain accumulation of 5-15 inches is expected farther south along the coast, west in the Texas Hill Country and east into central Louisiana. Rivers between Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Houston are forecast to reach major to record flood levels, causing additional flooding as the water moves south toward the Gulf of Mexico.

About 1,000 of the Texas Wing’s 3,200 members live along the Gulf Coast from Brownsville to Houston, with the largest concentration in the Houston area. CAP airplanes were moved out of the coastal area Thursday to various locations farther north.