# Civil Air Patrol to aid in Katrina aftermath **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 2, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767 "2005-09-02T18:18:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/1 "2005-09-02T18:18:43Z")
[From here](http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/news_events/hurricane_katrina_response.cfm?fuseaction=display&nodeID=6046&newsID=1381&year=2005&month=9): > [@](#): > > NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS – Members of the all-volunteer Civil Air Patrol, the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, will become increasingly involved in air and ground search and rescue, and airborne communications relay and high-frequency radio communication missions over the next several days after receiving requests from agencies in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. > > Also, CAP ground personnel will staff state and local emergency operations center positions, conduct ground-impact assessments, support shelter operations, and locate and silence aircraft and boat emergency locator beacons set off by the storm… > > Since Tuesday, CAP members have been flying aerial damage-assessment missions in Baldwin and Mobile counties in Alabama, in southern Mississippi and in New Orleans. CAP volunteers also have been transporting critical supplies to local, state and federal emergency management personnel. I’m a former 2LT in the CAP. We used to joke that CAP stood for ‘Come And Pay’. There are national dues, squadron dues, uniforms to buy… Most of the aircraft used by the CAP are owned by its members. The member is responsible for maintaining his aircraft, and they are only reimbursed a small amount for fuel when the aircraft is used on an authorised mission. Using your own aircraft for a CAP mission is a money-losing proposition. But… CAP members regularly perform search-and-rescue and disaster-relief functions. Many of those uniformed teenagers you see at your local airshows are CAP cadets. They volunteer their time, their money, and their expertise to help in times of need. I salute those active CAP members who are out there helping to save lives, whether they are helping out in the aftermath of Katrina or searching for a lost hiker or missing aircraft. When I get my life straightened out and get myself current again, I’m planning to sign up again. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/2 "2005-09-02T18:22:22Z")
I have always wanted to be a member of the CAP. I only have a vague idea of what they do but it sounds rewarding and exciting. I hope they can do some good on the Gulf Coast. My hat is off to them. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/3 "2005-09-02T18:32:18Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I only have a vague idea of what they do but it sounds rewarding and exciting. [Here’s a quick overview](http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/programs/operations/emergency_services/). [CAP Home](http://level2.cap.gov/index.cfm) [CAP Site Map](http://level2.cap.gov/visitors/site_map/) ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/4 "2005-09-02T19:37:03Z")
Former C/MSGT [Pegasus Squadron](http://www.pegasuscap.org/_Homepage_Website/index.htm), Texas checking in. ---
**Author:** ![kinoons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kinoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kinoons)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/5 "2005-09-03T03:56:55Z")
Former C/Capt, Thunderbird Composite Squadron (#30033), Albuquerque, NM. Went on IACE, PJOC, and APJOC. Also spent two years on a ground search team. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/6 "2005-09-03T05:09:09Z")
The CAP has been called ‘The Air Force’s best kept secret’. When I was still a member, in the early-'90s, we lost an aircrew in the mountains north of Los Angeles. They were searching for a missing aircraft in lousy weather, and the weather caught up with them. IIRC, it was a Pilot, Observer, and two Scanners in a C-182. Those guys (and women) give their time and money to a good cause, and sometimes they give more. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2005, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/civil-air-patrol-to-aid-in-katrina-aftermath/319767/7 "2005-09-03T13:01:49Z")
Another former CAP ground team member checking in. Being from Colorado, we had a lot of training in rope evac.