1 00:00:02,310 --> 00:00:03,150 - [Sgt. Barko] The heavy rains 2 00:00:03,150 --> 00:00:05,460 from hurricanes Laura and Delta have caused 3 00:00:05,460 --> 00:00:09,850 increasing numbers of mosquitoes across Southwest Louisiana. 4 00:00:09,850 --> 00:00:11,990 Mosquitoes can hinder recovery efforts 5 00:00:11,990 --> 00:00:14,770 and possibly spread diseases. 6 00:00:14,770 --> 00:00:18,140 U.S. Air Force C-130H Hercules aircraft, 7 00:00:18,140 --> 00:00:20,940 equipped with modular aerial spray systems 8 00:00:20,940 --> 00:00:24,860 and 85 Reserve Citizen Airmen from the 910th Airlift Wing, 9 00:00:24,860 --> 00:00:27,300 Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio, 10 00:00:27,300 --> 00:00:30,400 conducted mosquito control aerial spray missions 11 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:32,003 over Southern Louisiana. 12 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,480 - We were actually tasked or requested 13 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:37,810 by the state of Louisiana to come down and help out. 14 00:00:37,810 --> 00:00:41,210 After being hit by two hurricanes back to back, 15 00:00:41,210 --> 00:00:44,240 they kind of tapped out all their resources available 16 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,897 on the civilian side to control mosquitoes. 17 00:00:47,897 --> 00:00:51,300 So we have the only fixed-wing aerial assets 18 00:00:51,300 --> 00:00:53,440 to perform these functions, 19 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:55,190 and they requested us through FEMA. 20 00:00:56,339 --> 00:00:58,590 - [Sgt. Barko] AFNORTH, the Air Force component 21 00:00:58,590 --> 00:01:01,950 of U.S. Northern Command activated the 910th 22 00:01:01,950 --> 00:01:05,420 to assist civil authorities in Louisiana. 23 00:01:05,420 --> 00:01:08,160 - DOD does not take any, we don't make any decisions 24 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:09,180 of these on our own. 25 00:01:09,180 --> 00:01:11,700 We never take lead in response. 26 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:14,350 We take all of our cues from the state 27 00:01:14,350 --> 00:01:16,140 and then from the lead for the agency. 28 00:01:16,140 --> 00:01:20,040 And we are there 100% in support of those requests. 29 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:21,910 And we want to be there for the people. 30 00:01:21,910 --> 00:01:23,700 - [Sgt. Barko] The Aerial Spray Team operated 31 00:01:23,700 --> 00:01:26,120 from Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, 32 00:01:26,120 --> 00:01:29,250 and the 2nd Bomb Wing, the installation host unit, 33 00:01:29,250 --> 00:01:31,790 supported the mission with the use of facilities 34 00:01:31,790 --> 00:01:34,300 and logistical assistance. 35 00:01:34,300 --> 00:01:37,130 The Air Force Aerial Spray Team has been providing 36 00:01:37,130 --> 00:01:39,390 mosquito control since October 20th 37 00:01:39,390 --> 00:01:42,290 and has treated nearly 900,000 acres 38 00:01:42,290 --> 00:01:44,300 of the more than 1 million acres 39 00:01:44,300 --> 00:01:46,700 assigned to them by FEMA. 40 00:01:46,700 --> 00:01:48,010 - You know, when people think of a hurricane 41 00:01:48,010 --> 00:01:50,060 or flooding, mosquitoes aren't necessarily 42 00:01:50,060 --> 00:01:51,390 the first thing they think about. 43 00:01:51,390 --> 00:01:53,340 So that's why we come in. 44 00:01:53,340 --> 00:01:54,930 As I mentioned, this is the last thing 45 00:01:54,930 --> 00:01:56,090 they need to be thinking about. 46 00:01:56,090 --> 00:01:58,130 They're trying to, rescue workers, 47 00:01:58,130 --> 00:02:00,630 people trying to rebuild their homes, their businesses, 48 00:02:00,630 --> 00:02:03,130 take care of their families, the people around them. 49 00:02:03,130 --> 00:02:05,510 They don't want to be eaten alive by mosquitoes, right? 50 00:02:05,510 --> 00:02:07,440 So by helping them do that, 51 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:08,980 we're helping the overall picture 52 00:02:08,980 --> 00:02:11,020 and the overall rebuilding of the area. 53 00:02:11,020 --> 00:02:13,390 - [Sgt. Barko] Reporting from Bossier City, Louisiana, 54 00:02:13,390 --> 00:02:16,160 this is Senior Master Sergeant Bob Barko, Jr. 55 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:19,823 with U.S. Air Force Aerial Spray Team Public Affairs.