Wing stands alert for Hurricane Irene

Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron load Zodiac motorboats onto a trailer as the unit prepares to deploy Sept. 28, 2011, from Louisville, Ky., to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., where they were expected to stage for rescue operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. The deployment was called off just prior to the Airmen's departure when damage from Irene was found to be less extensive than anticipated. Pararescuemen for the 123rd STS are trained to conduct a variety recovery missions and provide emergency medical care. They deploy with a range of dedicated rescue equipment like Zodiac motorboats in order to carry out a broad spectrum of operations. The 123rd STS has been instrumental in hurricane recovery operations before, conducting rescue missions and operating a helicopter landing zone in New Orleans that airlifted more than 11,000 people to safety following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer)