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RC-26 'eye in the sky' rapidly deploys

  • Published
  • By Sgt. Maj. Bob Dashman
  • Texas Military Forces Public Affairs
CAMP MABRY, Austin, Texas --  In the early hours of July 23, Hurricane Dolly came ashore along the South Texas coast, bringing with it 100-mph winds and heavy rainfall.

As the sun rose over the Rio Grande Valley, no one knew how much damage the winds and rain had caused, or would cause, as the storm worked its way inland.

Parts of South Texas received up to 11 inches of rain. Accurate real-time video of the affected area was crucial to help first responders position themselves to save as many lives as possible.

The RC-26 aircraft was the immediate solution to the problem.

For over 14 years, it has provided aerial photography and video in support of counterdrug activities. Its exceptional ability to send real time, high resolution streaming video to ground incident commanders and first responders made it a perfect fit.

Currently, there are only 13 aircraft nationwide; the closest one to Texas is operated by the Mississippi National Guard. It is also available to other states in the region.

"I called (the Adjutant General of Mississippi) and requested that the aircraft be diverted to Texas for an immediate response, 72-hour-type mission to help with the life-threatening situation," said Maj. Gen. Charles G. Rodriguez, the adjutant general of Texas. "(He) immediately approved my request."

Rodriguez said within hours the aircraft was on its way to Texas.

This was not the first time that an RC-26 was used to assist in helping emergency personnel respond to natural disasters. Within the last 12 months the system was used during the California wildfires, the recent Midwest flooding, and during pre-landfall preparations for Hurricane Dean. In 2005, it also flew over New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"We learned during Katrina that the system needed improvement," said Col. Russell Malesky, the Texas Air National Guard director of staff, who flew the RC-26 for 17 years. "During Katrina, the aircraft recorded video, but responders could not watch it until after the aircraft landed. We knew we needed a better system."

In the following year, the system was updated to provide a live video feed. Responders on the ground could not only watch the video, but could also ask the aircraft to provide coverage of a specific location.

"We tested the system in anticipation of Hurricane Dean in 2007," said Malesky, "and demonstrated it could be in operation immediately after strong hurricane winds dissipated to deliver live video."

For Hurricane Dolly, the aircraft flew from Tennessee (where it was on assignment) to San Antonio, refueled, and then flew to the Rio Grande Valley, a total trip of about 1,000 miles.

Its mission was to assess the flooding threat was and search for people who may have been stranded by flood waters.

During its second day of transmitting live imagery, the RC-26 confirmed that a levee was overflowing at a small lake. While the threat of this overflow was modest, it provided valuable information to local officials directing shelter and restoration activities.

Later that day, it also captured on film two people in a stranded vehicle, who were then rescued by a Texas Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk.

"It took a wide variety of agencies to make the live, streaming video available," said Lt. Col. Tim Smith, Texas Military Forces (TXMF) J-6 operations chief. "The Mississippi Air National Guard provided the aircraft and a ground receiver.

"Our Texas J-6, working with the Mississippi Air Guard, connected the receiver to a ground-based PACSTAR satellite communications terminal in Weslaco operated by the Texas State Guard. That established a link to NORTHCOM, who provided access to the live video on a password-protected Web site. All of this came together in approximately 24 hours."

Texas J-6 provided access to the customers and stakeholders who needed the information, including Texas Task Force 1, the State Operations Center, the Standing Joint Interagency Task Force in Weslaco (Forward) and San Antonio (Main), the TXMF Joint Operations Center in the Joint Force Headquarters in Austin, and the State's regional Disaster District Chair in the Valley.

In addition, this access was broadened to include Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Corps of Engineers, and other federal agencies to allow situational awareness and integrated planning at all levels.

Col. Lavern "Bullet" Young, the FEMA Region VI defense coordinating officer, explained that, with rapid collaboration, organizations can effectively engage and marshal multiple resources on very short notice to help save lives in the disaster-affected areas.

"Local elected officials and emergency managers were very pleased to be given access to the live video feeds from the RC-26," he said. "Initially, most government buildings were without power. Many roads in the counties of Cameron, Willacy and Hidalgo were under water, making it very difficult for local government officials to size up early the damage of the affected areas in their jurisdictions. Having access to the video feed gave them an early appreciation of the impact of Hurricane Dolly on their communities.

Young gave an example of the value of this information. "In Cameron County, reports were being received that the Delta Reservoir Dam had failed. The RC-26 was in the area and was able to provide real time video of the dam and the downstream flooding. Live feeds from the aircraft showed water flowing over the dam. Downstream the banks of the river had overflowed the banks causing major flooding.

"Local officials were able to quickly determine that the dam had not failed and only agricultural land was flooded. As a result of the real time data, they did not have to dispatch units to the dam to verify the report, thereby allowing them to conserve critical resources for employment and support of other missions.

"While this example may not be as dramatic as saving someone trapped on the roof of their home, to the local officials trying to gain control of a chaotic situation knowing where resources are not needed can be as valuable as knowing where they are needed," said Young.

Rodriguez described the RC-26 as an "effectiveness multiplier" for assessment and re-entry operations after the hurricane passed through the area. "I appreciate General Freeman's collegial and short-notice support to use his aircraft," he said. "And, also, all the joint-minded leaders and technicians, who made this valuable live, wide-area imagery available for life-saving search and rescue operations during our Hurricane Dolly team response."