This picture of my new friends in Lumberton NC captures the essence of Operation Airdrop, September 2018, in Southeast North Carolina.
These ladies, some of their neighborhoods flooded, organized to receive emergency supplies via aircraft immediately after the storm, to help their neighbors. Amazing attitudes all around, and an honor to meet and know them.They, and all those friends & volunteers who donated supplies, those who weighed & loaded, flew, and received at Lumberton, Elizabeth Town, Wilmington, South Port, Jacksonville- to distribute them afar - have inspired me tremendously.
"Leadership is Action - Not Position!" Operation Airdrop is the clearest example of that sentiment I have ever been a part of. Great leadership in so many places, with no clearly defined leadership chain. Just collaboration, action, and care for others.
https://www.wral.com/operation-airdrop-dispatches-pilots-to-deliver-donations-to-florence-victims/17858951/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/operationairdrop/
https://www.operation-airdrop.com/
As my wife Meredith said, "The families using the baby formula and diapers really don't care how big the plane was that brought them..."
Pilot info board at RDU
Southport NC
Southport
The trailer is for a NASCAR jet headed for Southport
Jacksonville Boy Scouts taking the loads forward
This gentleman drove that truck from the mountains to help deliver goods
Hauling Operation Airdrop supplies to folks in Jacksonville
So many Raleigh volunteers at RDU
Volunteers loading up an experimental plane full of supplies
The operations maestro at work, directing us where to fly, with what.
Love the teeth on this Cessna
So many enthusiastic volunteers!
Near Elizabeth Town
Elizabeth Town NC
Lots of roads washed out like this in southeastern NC
Volunteer Crew at ElizabethTown NC
Volunteers on the first day at RDU - the Operation grew a ton over just 2-3 day
Pilot Board - Shelter needs for supplies at that hour.
This is why Airdrop is better than government help in some ways - Volunteers out at the flood shelters, firechiefs, etc - call Airdrop and tell exactly what is needed there (Insulin? Diapers? Toilet paper? Baby formula? Water/Food? Feminine products?). Airdrop volunteers immediately target that need with a specific type of load, and get it there quickly for distribution. Surgical and immediately responsive.
This is why Airdrop is better than government help in some ways - Volunteers out at the flood shelters, firechiefs, etc - call Airdrop and tell exactly what is needed there (Insulin? Diapers? Toilet paper? Baby formula? Water/Food? Feminine products?). Airdrop volunteers immediately target that need with a specific type of load, and get it there quickly for distribution. Surgical and immediately responsive.
All the goods are grouped into loads by weight and taped together with blue tape to make it easy to send out to the planes by specific weight.
Cherokee 6 loaded up
Wallace, NC
NASCAR team's plane helping out
Lumberton
I have load envy
Lumberton NC
Some of these volunteers at Lumberton had their homes flooded
Lumberton
Flying back from ElizabethTown
Flying back from ElizabethTown
Southport Volunteers. Some had their houses destroyed at Boiling Spring Lakes area
Pilot welcome & sign-in table on the first day of Operation Airdrop
Collection facility at TACAir RDU getting started
After weighing a load, volunteers take the load out to the plane with the pilot.
Sorting station. A river of items flowing in the front door, and out to the tarmac.
RDU collection center, first day of Operation Airdrop
Nice to see a lot of people getting these supplies at Southport right at the Airport
On the way home after a mission to Lumberton
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