HARBOR SPRINGS — Local agencies, citizens, and members of the Michigan Wing Civil Air Patrol have been using all available daylight hours since last week assessing the damage from the March 28 ice storm that affected much of Northern Michigan.
According to an April 9 news release, within days of the disaster, Emmet County requested help from the Michigan Wing Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and other agencies with assessing road and waterway conditions.
CAP members were dispatched using aircrews scanning waterways for log-jamming, drone crews (sUAS) inspecting power lines, and ground teams in vans looking for road obstructions from debris. In conjunction with the Michigan State Police air support unit, road conditions on Beaver Island were also scanned at the request of the Michigan National Guard.
“One of the main focuses of Civil Air Patrol is Disaster Relief. Our members, including those affected by the storm from Harbor Springs, Alanson, and throughout Northern Lower Michigan, have been out here for days providing damage assessment photos and video to assist local county EOCs and the Michigan State Police in their efforts to identify damage and mitigate risks to the community,” said. Lt Col Sheila M. Cerny, Civil Air Patrol Incident Commander. We are happy to be a part of this team effort to restore power and normalcy to the local residents.”
As the effort continues, CAP continues to draw members from across the state including the Detroit Metro area as the scope expands geographically. CAP (an auxiliary of the US Air Force) uses adult and teen volunteers for disaster response and has been involved with the breached dams in Midland as well as COVID relief efforts in Michigan.
