Helicopters Rush to Hurricane Ike Victims

Air Force helicopters from the 23rd Wing were deployed to Galveston, Texas to assist in the massive search, rescue and recover effort that followed in the wake of Hurricane Ike, which struck the area on the morning of September 13. The Category 2 hurricane hit the coastal city with winds reaching 110 mph, enormous waves and driving floodwaters, leaving thousands of area residents in need of rescue from the roofs of homes, buildings and cars. The eight Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawks, normally based out of both Davis-Monthan AFB in Ariz. and Moody AFB in Ga., will be operating out of Randolph AFB, Texas for as long as needed to help carry people to safety and deliver critical supplies to citizens and public safety workers. Some estimates show 140,000 of the areas one million residents ignored the evacuation order, and remained at their homes. For related news