Ohio National Guard News

200th RHS, 179th AW Airmen aid in
Hurricane Michael recovery efforts at Tyndall AFB

Story by Capt. Paul Stennett, 179th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Ohio National Guard photos by Capt. Ashley Klase

Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 200th RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) Squadron and 179th Airlift Wing work to provide damage assessment and repair of the Continental United States NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) Region-First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) Headquarters building at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The Airmen, who specialize in heavy construction, were assisting with recovery efforts Oct. 17-22, 2018, at Tyndall AFB following Hurricane Michael, which caused serious damage to the base.

MANSFIELD, Ohio (10/24/18) — Airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 200th RED HORSE Squadron and 179th Airlift Wing traveled to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida following Hurricane Michael, to provide damage assessment and assist with recovery efforts for the Continental United States NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense Command) Region-First Air Force (Air Forces Northern) Headquarters building, Oct. 17-22.

CONR-1AF (AFNORTH) and the 601st Air Operations Center, both located at Tyndall, execute NORAD’s air defense mission for the continental United States, and provide the air support for U.S. Northern Command.

The group of Ohio Air National Guard Airmen dispatched to Tyndall specialize in heavy construction and their skill sets were utilized to help recover the headquarters building. The Airmen worked to clean up debris, shore up the damaged parts of the building and prepare the building for repairs. Their efforts helped rescue vital documents and equipment in areas damaged by water.

“We are glad that we can be down here to help our brothers and sisters during this time of need, this is what we train for,” said Capt. Ashley Klase, 200th RED HORSE operations officer, while the contingent was still at Tyndall. “We’ve been able to help clear debris, moved 180,000 pounds of stone, have cleared out damaged drywall, roofing and flashing.”

Air National Guard members continuously train in order to be ready to respond to natural disasters and answer our nation’s call.

The 200th RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer) Squadron’s is a highly mobile, rapidly deployable, civil engineering response force that is self-sufficient to perform heavy damage repair required for recovery of critical Air Force facilities and utility systems, and aircraft launch and recovery.