{"id":184173,"date":"2025-08-04T12:13:55","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T17:13:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/?p=184173"},"modified":"2025-08-04T12:17:47","modified_gmt":"2025-08-04T17:17:47","slug":"dvids-mescalero-apache-tribe-welcomes-military-aid-after-flooding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2025\/08\/04\/dvids-mescalero-apache-tribe-welcomes-military-aid-after-flooding\/","title":{"rendered":"DVIDS: Mescalero Apache Tribe welcomes military aid after flooding"},"content":{"rendered":"\"Flooding<\/a>
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Jacob Maldonado, 7th Air Support Operations Squadron tactical air control party specialist, cleans a grate at Mescalero, New Mexico, July 19, 2025. The volunteers supported local recovery efforts following severe flooding that damaged infrastructure and natural resources in the Mescalero Apache community. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski<\/figcaption>\r\n
Holloman Airmen and 7th ASOS Respond with Aid After Flooding in Mescalero<\/div>\r\n
Monday, August 4, 2025<\/div>\r\n
By Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski, 49th Wing<\/div>\r\n
DOD DVIDS<\/div>\r\n
dvidshub.net<\/A><\/div>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nSince the start of July, the communities of Mescalero and Ruidoso, New Mexico, have been affected by flooding due to a constant influx of thunderstorms in the area. \r\n

<\/P>\r\nMore than 90 Airmen from the 29th Attack Squadron, and 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bliss, Texas, mobilized to provide critical support to the Mescalero Apache Tribe.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cAs soon as we heard they needed help, we assembled a small team and started gathering volunteers from the base,\u201d said U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Norton, 29th ATKS instructor pilot. \u201cWe also reached out to Fort Bliss, and any time you get that many volunteers coming together, it\u2019s something special.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\"Flooding<\/a>

Ryan Kidrowski, Southwester Electric electrician, left, and U.S. Air Force Aidan Rodriguez, 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics technician, fill up a sandbag at Mescalero, New Mexico, July 19, 2025. Over 90 volunteers helped to sort through and transport clothes, fill and transport over 1,500 sandbags and clear the Mescalero Apache Tribal Hatchery of debris. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nVolunteers supported multiple recovery efforts, including sorting and transporting clothing donations, clearing flood debris, and filling sandbags to bolster defenses against further damage. One of the hardest-hit areas was the Mescalero Tribal Fish Hatchery, which lost more than 80% of its fish stock due to contaminated spring water.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cOur fish rely on clean spring water from the canyons,\u201d said Kyle Valdez, Mescalero Emergency Operations Center project manager. \u201cWhen the floods hit, that water became filled with silt and debris. Thanks to the volunteers, we were able to clear out the waterways and restore oxygen flow to the remaining fish we have.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\"Flooding<\/a>

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Dawson Ivosic, 49th Component Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsion apprentice, helps load sandbags into a trailer at Mescalero, New Mexico, July 19, 2025. The volunteers supported local recovery efforts following severe flooding that damaged infrastructure and natural resources in the Mescalero Apache community. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nTeams of Airmen cleared debris from three separate waterways near the hatchery and placed sandbags to protect vulnerable infrastructure. At the community center, additional volunteers organized clothing donations, delivering dozens of bags to nearby distribution points. Meanwhile, at a local sawmill, volunteers filled more than 500 sandbags and delivered over 1,000 to multiple locations.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cI spent most of my time at the sandbag site,\u201d said Norton. \u201cMany volunteers even used their personal vehicles to distribute sandbags. It made a real difference in protecting the hatchery and other key areas.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\"Flooding<\/a>

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Taylor Smith, 635th Materiel Maintenance Squadron avionics technician, ties up a filled sandbag at Mescalero, New Mexico, July 19, 2025. Volunteers supported multiple recovery efforts, including sorting and transporting clothing donations, clearing flood debris, and filling sandbags to bolster defenses against further damage. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThis operation wasn\u2019t the first collaboration between the 29th ATKS and the Mescalero Apache Tribe. Since the squadron\u2019s reactivation in 2009 as an MQ-9 Reaper unit, it has developed a close relationship with the tribe, one rooted in mutual respect and cultural appreciation.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cThe tribe helped design our squadron morale patch when we reactivated,\u201d said U.S. Air Force Capt. John Gossett, 29th ATKS C-Flight commander. \u201cOver the years, we\u2019ve supported each other, whether through educational tours, judging drone competitions, or providing aid to last year\u2019s wildfires.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\nThis enduring partnership reflects the Air Force\u2019s broader commitment to building strong ties with local communities and supporting neighbors during times of need.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s a great feeling to have this partnership with the 29th ATKS,\u201d said Valdez. \u201cWe expected far fewer people to show up, but the turnout was incredible. Seeing that many volunteers step up to help the tribe was nothing short of amazing.\u201d\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\"Flooding<\/a>

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Davide Bumagat, 29th Attack Squadron aviation resource management journeyman, helps sort through clothing donations at Mescalero, New Mexico, July 19, 2025. Volunteers supported multiple recovery efforts, including sorting and transporting clothing donations, clearing flood debris, and filling sandbags to bolster defenses against further damage. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowski<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\"Flooding<\/a>

Members of Team Holloman, the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron and community members pose for a photo at Mescalero, New Mexico, July 19, 2025. Over 90 volunteers helped to sort through and transport clothes, fill and transport over 1,500 sandbags and clear the Mescalero Apache Tribal Hatchery of debris. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Nicholas Paczkowsk<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/P>\r\n

DVIDS (Defense Video Imagery Distribution System) is a state-of-the-art, 24\/7 operation that provides a timely, accurate and reliable connection between the media around the world and the military serving worldwide. This article is in the public \r\ndomain<\/A>.<\/EM>
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