2006 Kauai Dam Failure Response

Posted on Jan 3, 2025 in 2000's, HING History

Air Guard responds to Kauai flooding CERF-P members, along with numerous other HIANG members, also participated in disaster relief and recovery after the Kaloko Dam breach and the intense flooding that occurred on Kauai, March 2005. The CERF-P sent their search and extraction team, which was made up of 154th Civil Engineer and Medical Squadron members. Members of the 204th Airlift Squadron also participated in the disaster relief by delivering approximately 27,000 pounds of recovery equipment to Kauai on board a C-17 to thousands of isolated residents and tourists along the island’s north shore.

– 2006 Annual Report pp. 15

AIR MAIL -- Staff Sgt. Ivan Sanches directs 291st Combat Communications Squadron Airmen loading recovery equipment on a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft at the Hilo International Airport, Hawaii, March 2006. The C-17 Delivered recovery equipment to the island of Kauai, Hawaii, after a dam burst, isolating thousands of people along the island's north shore. Sanches is with the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron. Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo, U.S. Air Force photo
AIR MAIL – Staff Sgt. Ivan Sanches directs 291st Combat Communications Squadron Airmen loading recovery equipment on a C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft at the Hilo International Airport, Hawaii, March 2006. The C-17 Delivered recovery equipment to the island of Kauai, Hawaii, after a dam burst, isolating thousands of people along the island’s north shore. Sanches is with the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 204th Airlift Squadron. Tech. Sgt. Shane A. Cuomo, U.S. Air Force photo
(Picture from the 2006 Annual Report)

Blackhawk unit aswers Iraqi call

On the front page of this issue, there’s an article on the mobilization of Company C, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation. They’re the last Blackhawk unit in the nation to be mobilized for duty in either Afghanistan or Iraq. We had asked the Defense Department to delay the unit’s mobilization until after our CH-47 unit completed its tour of duty in Iraq and could have its aircraft overhauled. If we had had both rotary wing units gone at the same time, the State would’ve been placed in a difficult position in the event of a disaster. In fact, last year, in addition to the aero-medical evacuation mission conducted on Oahu, our UH-60 Blackhawks supported operations following the Kaloko Dam break and torrential flooding on Kauai, as well as conducting missions on the Big Island after the Oct. 15 earthquake. I know that they’ll make Hawaii proud and will perform to the same high standards as those who’ve done yearlong tours in Iraq or Afghanistan.

– 2007 January – March Pūpūkahi pp. 2