Niagara Airmen support hurricane relief efforts in Florida

914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs / Published September 13, 2017

914 CES Airmen support hurricane relief efforts in Florida

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Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 914th Air Refueling Wing and the 911th Airlift Wing load a C-130 Hercules with supplies at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, N.Y. September 12, 2017. The Pittsburgh ARS C-130 provided transport to six members from the 914th Civil Engineer Squadron en route to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, to aid in recovery efforts after the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Richard Mekkri)

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Members of the 914th Civil Engineer Squadron board a 911th Airlift Wing C-130 Hercules bound for Homestead Air Reserve base Florida. The six civil engineers will be supporting relief efforts for Hurricane Irma for at least the next 30 days.

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. --

Six members of the 914th Civil Engineer Squadron departed yesterday bound for Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida where they will support recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Irma. A 911th Airlift Wing C-130 out of Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station provided the transport.

Military civil engineer specialists in the fields of electrical, utilities, and carpentry answered the call for volunteers from the Air Force Reserve Command, Robins AFB, Georgia. Niagara's response was fast and efficient.

"We got notification on Sunday of the UTA around 4 pm and by Monday around noon we had six guys ready to go," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Haag, 914 CES Senior Air Reserve Technician.

The extremely fast response did not go unnoticed from command leadership.

"Our functional area manager was impressed and made it a point to say how grateful he was that our guys are here in less than 24 hours and ready to go," said Haag.

The six Niagara reservists from the 914th Air Refueling Wing will join other Air Force Reserve members from units throughout the Northeast to support recovery efforts at Homestead. It is not yet known how long the reservists will be deployed.