The DOGS Continue to Play a Key Role in Disaster Relief ...

… as highlighted during a recent discussion at the AAAE National Airports Conference in Tucson. The two primary groups – the Southeast Airports Disaster Operations Group (SEADOG) and Western Airports Disaster Operations Group (WESTDOG) -- are an effort in airport-to-airport mutual assistance during natural disasters. The concept got its start during the turbulent hurricane season of 2004, when Patrick Graham, A.A.E., executive director of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, reached out to Frank Miller, who is now at San Antonio International, but was then at Pensacola. At that time, Hurricane Charley was bearing down on the Florida community. As I wrote in a March 2008 cover story on Graham (http://www.airportbusiness.com/print/Airport-Business-Magazine/In-the-Eye-of-the-Storm/1$17915) … “What started out as a friendly gesture to another airport has blossomed into a nationwide network of regional airport groups who are on call in the event that one of their group is hit by disaster. It’s all about bringing in personnel and equipment that will get the local airport operational so that other relief efforts can take place. Today, the network knows who is available to respond, what equipment is needed, and where it is located. At the end of the day, it’s about airports helping airports.†Hurricanes Katrina and Rita saw the real first wave of the SEADOG attack, with as many as 60 airports bringing assistance to New Orleans and the Gulf Coast airports. During a disaster, getting local airports up and running is a critical link to relief for communities, and it is often other airports that have the technical expertise and appropriate equipment necessary to get an airfield operational again. The all-volunteer SEADOG and WESTDOG have developed to where they have structure in terms of coordination. For example, San Antonio International recently took responsibility for coordination with law enforcement during a disaster for SEADOG, taking over for Jacksonville International. At Tucson, officials emphasized that there is still work to be done, and one initiative would be to set up a similar ‘DOG’ for the mid-section of the U.S. Another is a call for more airports to join, and Sean Broderick at AAAE is helping to coordinate these efforts. Another consideration the teams are working on is providing relief internationally, particularly in the Caribbean. The overall goal: “Grow the pack.†Thanks for reading. jfi