RCAF Dispatches Support for Hurricane Harvey

RCAF Press Release

A Royal Canadian Air Force CC130J Hercules departed 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario for Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, carrying humanitarian supplies from the Government of Canada to aid in Hurricane Harvey relief efforts.

In the wake of the hurricane, the Government of Canada offered to assist with relief efforts and the United States accepted this offer through its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The RCAF airlift is part of a Whole of Government response to the relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey that has caused a mandatory evacuation of approximately 750,000 people with an additional 1.1 million people who are under a voluntary evacuation order along the Gulf Coast.

"Like all good neighbours, Canada and the United States are there for each other in times of crisis. Canadians can be proud that ‎the Royal Canadian Air Force is well-suited to humanitarian missions at home and abroad thanks to its agility, flexibility and professionalism. The Canadian Armed Forces will continue to work with other departments in the Canadian government as well as our partners in the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be responsive to requests for aid as our American friends and neighbours recover from the horrors of Hurricane Harvey," said Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister.

The relief supplies on this flight included baby formula, blankets, cribs, and similar items. Supplies will be sent to Lackland Air Force Base, near San Antonio, Texas.

A CC130J Hercules is being used to transport the supplies. This aircraft is well-suited to disaster relief operations and humanitarian missions. The CC130J Hercules is a four-engine turboprop tactical transport aircraft with a rear cargo ramp and rugged landing gear. It is used for troop transport, tactical airlift (both palletized and vehicular cargo) and humanitarian missions. It has a maximum payload of 48,000 lbs / 21,772 kg.

Members of 8 Wing Trenton have diverse responsibilities, from delivering supplies to the Canadian Forces Station Alert in the high Arctic to airlifting troops, equipment, and humanitarian loads worldwide. They are adaptable and well-prepared to support disaster assistance missions throughout the world.