Dobbins plays major role in relief efforts

MARIETTA — At Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, hurricane relief remains front of mind, around the clock.

The base is temporarily operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week as an air and logistics hub for patients coming in from places affected by Hurricanes Maria and Irma, as well as cargo and personnel destined for relief efforts.

Dobbins has a standing agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it may activate as an installation support base for federal agencies when needed for events like natural disasters. The base was originally scheduled to help through Tuesday, but that has been extended to Oct. 28. It has seen 70 missions, 785 passengers and nearly 950,000 pounds of cargo fly in and out of the base since Sept. 22.

Col. Marty Hughes, commander of the 94th Airlift Wing’s Mission Support Group, said the base moved into extended hours after Hurricane Irma, and ramped up to 24/7 after Hurricane Maria.

“Because we are a prime asset given where we’re located here in the U.S.,” he explained, “we have the capability of ebbing and flowing in a 24/7 operation.”

This entails calling upon reservists and active duty personnel in the local area and beyond to augment Dobbins’ nine-person command. There are now over 100 Air Force personnel working with the full-time staff.

Emma Hurt, Marietta Daily Journal