Eric Adams

He had drowned in the flood and they were standing guard. They said that we're not leaving until he leaves. So that's not exactly a rescue mission, but that kind of speaks to what we were dealing with in the first week or two after the storm.

He had drowned in the flood and they were standing guard. They said that we're not leaving until he leaves. So that's not exactly a rescue mission, but that kind of speaks to what we were dealing with in the first week or two after the storm.

There is a bunch of different ways that we would go about doing search and rescue. Obviously, oftentimes be people standing outside. They would be waving. Other times it would be that someone hasn't spoken to or seen or heard their loved one in a week or so. So we would go in and check on them.

There is a bunch of different ways that we would go about doing search and rescue. Obviously, oftentimes be people standing outside. They would be waving. Other times it would be that someone hasn't spoken to or seen or heard their loved one in a week or so. So we would go in and check on them.

And at that point, you know, they would most likely want to come with us just because we could get them to safety. We could get them out of the cold. We could get them food, shelter, water. and all that. We evacuated a nursing home and it had 159 elderly people in it. So that's, you know, we get the call that they have no power, they have no water, they've been stuck in there for six days.

And at that point, you know, they would most likely want to come with us just because we could get them to safety. We could get them out of the cold. We could get them food, shelter, water. and all that. We evacuated a nursing home and it had 159 elderly people in it. So that's, you know, we get the call that they have no power, they have no water, they've been stuck in there for six days.

So we actually grabbed a National Guard asset, a Chinook, and took that in and grabbed the 159 people over a couple trips. So it varies in how we were able to get the people out. But at the end of the day, we ended up rescuing or exfilling 439 people throughout the course of the mission.

So we actually grabbed a National Guard asset, a Chinook, and took that in and grabbed the 159 people over a couple trips. So it varies in how we were able to get the people out. But at the end of the day, we ended up rescuing or exfilling 439 people throughout the course of the mission.

So we learned throughout the evolution of the mission there in Hickory while we were flying that we just had such amazing volunteers. Ashley DeHaan, who ran a lot of our vetting and processing. Tommy Daniel, who did a lot of the technology. And when we had all these people that came together, we learned that we were really good at it.

So we learned throughout the evolution of the mission there in Hickory while we were flying that we just had such amazing volunteers. Ashley DeHaan, who ran a lot of our vetting and processing. Tommy Daniel, who did a lot of the technology. And when we had all these people that came together, we learned that we were really good at it.

Like I said, the FAA came in and each time I think they were going to try to shut us down, but they saw how safe we were and that we had tabs on all of our assets, both on the ground and in the air in real time. So moving forward, yes, we do have a database. We do have a plan to have vetted pilots to where we can respond going forward to any natural disaster.

Like I said, the FAA came in and each time I think they were going to try to shut us down, but they saw how safe we were and that we had tabs on all of our assets, both on the ground and in the air in real time. So moving forward, yes, we do have a database. We do have a plan to have vetted pilots to where we can respond going forward to any natural disaster.

We also learned that, you know, being a private organization, we can be nimble. We can respond to needs immediately. very quickly, like in the days after the storm. Once the roads started opening up and the need for helicopters kind of went away, we pivoted and we then began to provide campers for people that had been displaced throughout the flood and that had lost everything.

We also learned that, you know, being a private organization, we can be nimble. We can respond to needs immediately. very quickly, like in the days after the storm. Once the roads started opening up and the need for helicopters kind of went away, we pivoted and we then began to provide campers for people that had been displaced throughout the flood and that had lost everything.

So that's a testament to us being able to be nimble and just respond to the needs of the people.

So that's a testament to us being able to be nimble and just respond to the needs of the people.

Sure, like I said, I'd say probably two weeks after the storm, the helicopter mission kind of went away, but we knew the devastation. We had been boots on the ground. We had seen it all. We knew what people were dealing with. We knew not only did people lose houses and cars, but they lost loved ones often.

Sure, like I said, I'd say probably two weeks after the storm, the helicopter mission kind of went away, but we knew the devastation. We had been boots on the ground. We had seen it all. We knew what people were dealing with. We knew not only did people lose houses and cars, but they lost loved ones often.

Sometimes the river claimed people's property where it was 100 feet wide, it's now 400 feet wide. So we immediately pivoted, we knew the need, we knew that people were homeless, we knew people were sleeping in tents and in cars, and one man was even sleeping in a cave. So at that point, we just put the word out that we're gonna start buying and distributing campers.

Sometimes the river claimed people's property where it was 100 feet wide, it's now 400 feet wide. So we immediately pivoted, we knew the need, we knew that people were homeless, we knew people were sleeping in tents and in cars, and one man was even sleeping in a cave. So at that point, we just put the word out that we're gonna start buying and distributing campers.