Local authorities could be in for a busy week dealing with tropical storm Isaac.
If they need assistance dealing with evacuations to search and rescue, the Air Operations Center along with the National Security Emergency Preparedness Agency located on Tyndall Air Force Base is ready to help.
These teams are constantly tracking natural disasters, nation wide, from hurricanes to forest fires. Now, with a potential hurricane at the Panhandle's back door, they are ready to act if called.
For NSEP Director, Rod Simmons, and his team, there is no rest for the weary following the track of tropical storm Isaac.
They've had eyes across the globe, tracking the storm from the Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico.
"We also watch national special security events like the RNC or DNC and right now I've got six EPLOS or "Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officers" that are out there working with the RNC and DNC, right now. Let's say the hurricane goes into there. If they have to evacuate, if they have to get people off of roofs, if the convention center gets flooded, well those guys are there to facilitate anything needed there to help that," said Simmons.
Providing defense support to civil authorities is the key to their mission.
"We essentially are the super heroes behind the scenes that nobody really knows about, which is what we like," said DSCA Cell Chief, Chris Reynolds.
For Reynolds, he understands that the greater the storm, the greater his responsibility.
"In other words, the more ramped up it gets, the more exciting it gets, the more we like the work because that's what we're here to do and we're here to help others. That's the most important," said Reynolds.
For Simmons and his team, they take great pride in being citizen soldiers; aiding local authorities in their time of need to ensure the safety of all.
"We work together in this. We work together with FEMA. We work together with the local agencies, and without that we can't protect the citizens and if we don't do that than we fail. And, I can tell you that there are enough of us to know that we're not going to let that fail. We're going to take care of them," said Simmons.
At this time all agencies are urging you to get prepared.
A suggested list of supplies can be found here:
http://www.wmbb.com/category/209993/hurricane-season-201
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