Adm. Tim J. Keating, commander of US Northern Command, gathered his disaster response senior “crew” at Peterson to “roll up [their] sleeves and ask questions” to prepare for the 2006 storm season. The group included nine adjutants general, who head their individual state National Guard forces, as well as NORTHCOM senior staff. Based on TAG comments, they liked the collaborative effort. “Cooperation and coordination is key to any response effort,” said Air Force Maj. Gen. Doug Burnett, Florida’s adjutant general. “We should not be exchanging business cards in the foxhole.”
As Hurricane Melissa hammers the Caribbean, the U.S. Air Force’s “Hurricane Hunters” are busy flying into the massive Category 4 storm to collect atmospheric data—with one experiencing greater than expected turbulence Oct. 28.
