Semper Gumby: Flexibility key to success in hurricane humanitarian efforts Published Sept. 9, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Raymond Hoy 30th Space Wing Public Affairs ALEXANDRIA, La. -- "Be flexible." That is a term often heard in the military, but we would quickly learn there was no other statement that truly embodied our current situation. Our six-person team from Vandenberg had its bags packed and equipment ready within three hours of being told to go. All other preparations were to be made on the road. We were three days into the holiday weekend when my team and I received the word; we would be heading to Louisiana to provide coverage and support of the military's humanitarian efforts in the Gulf Coast region of the United States. The area was on the verge of being hit with a Category 3 hurricane named Gustav. And Gustav was angry. Unable to get a flight that afternoon, we had to stay the night in Los Angeles and catch the first flight to Shreveport, La., the next morning. We were glued to the TV Sunday night trying to get some sort of idea of what we could expect when we got to our operations' control center in Alexandria, La. Hurricane Gustav was expected to pass over practically the entire state of Louisiana and move into Eastern Texas. We could expect to see heavy rain through the end of the week. There were even some estimates the flooding would be worse than when Hurricane Katrina hit the same area three years ago. We were to find out that day we would be part of a nearly 20-person joint Public Affairs team that was being sent in from all over the country. We would be living in a compound sleeping on cots and would probably be moving around the state in smaller teams once we got there. And that was pretty much all we knew. Apprehension was obvious. We were heading toward a hurricane! Most of the state was heading in the opposite direction, but at least there wouldn't be too much traffic. Despite the apprehension, and fear of the devastation we may be facing, we were excited. We were excited to be answering our nation's call for help. We were trained, and we were ready. Semper Gumby!