Texas Flood SAR operations

The Podcast has been on a bit of a hiatus as we just can’t fit everything in during the SUSB Expo. However, this one was too good to let pass. So, I figured we had better try and capture some of what Gene had been though, flying and acting as the Air Boss for SAR operations in the aftermath of the recent flooding in Teas.

Gene recounts the events that include some of the following –

“Memorial Day of 2015 will be one of the most memorable in my life both personally and professionally.  Wimberley is my home and we saw a flood of millennial proportions – one the likes has not been seen for 1000 years. My town will be forever changed by that event and our sincerest condolences are with those families that lost loved ones.  Also, there were many brave people who did their best to minimize those losses and respond to those in need.  Agencies from the local, to the state, the federal level have and continue to participate in the recovery and rebuilding process of Wimberley.  In a very small part, I participated with the Wimberley Fire Department as their Chief Unmanned Aircraft pilot to bring this technology to bear.  The Federal Aviation Administration answered our requests for control of the airspace and the issuance of emergency certificate of authorizations (eCOA) when communications were a challenge.  In what has been a vindication of proposals offered in the past, this disaster has proven that unmanned and manned assets can be used to assist in these situations.”
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/suasnews/2015/06/16/texas-flood-sar