Group 22 Performs Disaster Assessment Flight

By 2nd Lt. Marc Stanley, Palwaukee Composite Squadron, CAP

Digital Images By Major Bob Williams, Commander Group 22, CAP

KANKAKEE, Ill -- Recent bitterly cold temperatures contributed to the formation of ice dams on the Kankakee River particularly near the Wilmington, IL I-55 bridge. This resulted in rapid flooding; houses were damaged, roads were blocked and people nearby were evacuated.

Group 22 assisted Will County by providing aerial reconnaissance of the affected areas stretching along the Kankakee River roughly from the I-55 Bridge to Kankakee, IL on January 25, 2008.  This disaster assessment flight was piloted by Lt. Col. Lou Wipotnik of Palwaukee Composite Squadron with Major Bob Williams, Commander of Group 22 serving as the observer/photographer. Also aboard was Mr. Anthony Marzano from the Will County Emergency Management Agency.

Group 22 provided approximately 200 digital images on compact disc to Will County immediately following the flight to aid in allocation of resources.

The flight path taken as well as a number of the photographs taken may be viewed below (click on each image for a larger version)

The house in the first photograph burned down because fire fighters were unable to reach it due to flooded roads.
The second photograph shows an example of a flooded road.
The third photograph shows the frozen and swollen Kankakee River; note Dresden nuclear power facility cooling pond to the right of image.