The all-volunteer group, run by veterans, began operations in Swannanoa, North Carolina, shortly after Hurricane Helen, providing humanitarian aid and emergency services to those affected by the storm.
Last week, Blaze Media was on the ground with a group of volunteers who call themselves the “Redneck Air Force.”
Blaze News' Julio Rosas spoke directly about the team's efforts, explaining that the group set up a front-line operations base at a Harley-Davidson dealership that had previously been flooded by a hurricane. Volunteers worked quickly and efficiently, establishing a well-oiled machine that carried out communications, delivered supplies, and allocated personnel to help those in need.
Image source: Blaze News
“We flew almost nonstop from sunrise to sunset.”
Former Green Beret Adam Smith helped coordinate and transport urgently needed supplies to people in affected areas after realizing there was a lack of support from the federal government. He hired several men and women to do so. Many of the volunteer emergency responders providing assistance in the region have expressed similar frustrations with the Biden-Harris administration's response, or lack thereof.
The Blaze Media team also joined Mercury One, a charity founded by Blaze Media's co-founders glenn beckhas partnered with the nonprofit organization United Cajun Navy to deliver supplies and conduct search and rescue operations in affected areas.
“Our day in North Carolina was one none of us will ever forget,” Jill Savage, host of “Blaze News Tonight,” told Blaze News. “Our day in North Carolina was one none of us will ever forget. Your donations through Mercury One made us lucky to see neighbors helping neighbors when the government was nowhere to be found. It was.”
Rep. Cory Mills (R-Florida) was on the ground last week with the Redneck Air Force and Mercury One to participate in disaster relief.
Savage told Blaze News: “Congressman Cory Mills went above and beyond, rushing in multiple times every day for supplies and medical calls. He just took a photo and left. “He's not been there. He's rolled up his sleeves and made a lot of money.” impact the community. ”
Glenn Beck and Congressman Cory Mills (Image source: Blaze News)
While on the ground in Asheville, Rosas spoke with John H. Kinard III, a Tennessee pilot and veteran of the Nashville-based helicopter travel agency Aerolux Aviation. The company saw the devastation in North Carolina and decided to use its helicopter fleet to help.
Kinard told Rosas there was “a complete and utter lack of federal response” and noted that “nobody on the ground is seeing it.”
As winter approaches and many rural and mountainous areas remain without power, volunteers transporting supplies by helicopter have increased their focus on delivering generators, fuel and portable stoves to isolated people. I am.
Volunteer teams' efforts to help people in need were disrupted for at least a few hours during President Joe Biden's visit last week, days after a hurricane hit the area. Rescue operations for stranded people and delivery of supplies were put on hold as flights within a 30-mile radius were temporarily restricted due to the president's visit.
The helicopter carrying Mr Mills and the Blaze News team was grounded for two hours as they waited for restrictions to be lifted. Biden previously insisted his visit would not disrupt operations.
Image source: Blaze News
Aeroluxe Aviation provided an update to Blaze News on Tuesday afternoon.
“We had three helicopters flying almost non-stop from sunrise to sunset, on a mission to deliver medical supplies, insulin and other medicines, oxygen, fresh food, dry goods, etc. to more than 1,000 people in the region. “We finally withdrew from the area yesterday as more military helicopters came into view. Our missions became less frequent,” Aerolux Aviation said, adding that one of its helicopters was in North Carolina during a light attack. It was pointed out that it had been damaged.
The helicopter tour company said its employees were “embarrassed by resistance from local police at Chimney Rock when they attempted to land last week.”
Aerolux Aviation said it was “unable to land to drop supplies and was waved off.” “All other regions welcomed our assistance as we landed, and every effort was made to contact each region prior to landing to determine needs and safe landing zones.” [landing zones]. Not all local fire and police departments have communications, so Anthony Velasquez, Aeroluxe's ground duty manager, uses social media to find people looking for help or their loved ones. I did. He will work with Savage Freedoms to direct our resources, including supplies and health screenings, to those areas. ”
The company said it plans to assist again if the need arises.
Kinnard also provided an update to Blaze News, saying that operations at the Harley-Davidson shop were “going well at the time we left.” He said he recruited friends from Blackhawk Helicopters to rescue the team.
“There is no doubt that the federal government is trying to prevent volunteer cooperation!” he said. “They don't give people money to FEMA because we're not considered a third-party approved vendor.”
“I want people all over America to know and understand that we have to take care of ourselves!!!” he added. “Stop relying on the American government!!!”
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