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Civil Air Patrol Rushes Special Formula to Sick Babies During Hurricane Florence

2 members load CAP van
CAP Capt. Tim Bagnell (left) and Cadet Master Sgt. Cooper Morton load specialized baby formula on 21 September 2018 in Raleigh for delivery to sick infants in eastern North Carolina. Photo Credit: Cadet Sr. Airman Anastasia Vermillion, CAP (click image to view full size)
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NC Wing team delivers much-needed baby formula to eastern North Carolina

By Capt Lynne T. Albert, CAP
NCWG Public Affairs Officer

9/22/2018–BURLINGTON, NC–The North Carolina Wing of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) received a priority tasking on September 21 – multiple sick babies in eastern North Carolina were running out of special baby formula they needed to survive.  The NC Health Department asked for CAP’s help in transporting the specialized baby formula to the infants in Wallace, North Carolina.  The request stated that at least one premature infant was at critical risk of running out of the special formula needed.  

A CAP ground team consisting of Cadet Maj. Cody Matthews, Cadet Master Sgt. Cooper Morton, Cadet Sr. Airman Anastasia Vermillion and Capt. Tim Bagnell left the wing’s headquarters around noon and headed to Raleigh to pick up the special formula.  After obtaining the formula, the ground team headed east to make the delivery.  The team dodged flooded roads and highways (including flooded out parts of I-40) and took multiple detours and side roads to get to Wallace.
 
The team was met in Wallace by a local law enforcement officer who escorted them to the delivery location.  Upon receiving the much-needed formula, family members thanked the CAP team profusely for their efforts.
 
When asked about the mission, Cadet Matthews said, “It was a great honor to represent Civil Air Patrol and help the Health Department get this formula to these vulnerable babies.”  
 
Cadet Matthews is a cadet with the Winston Salem Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol.  Cadets Morton and Vermillion are with the Burlington Composite Squadron and Capt. Bagnell serves with the Orange County Composite Squadron.
 
The NC Wing is using its 18 aircraft, CAP vans and many of its 2,000 volunteer members to support emergency services missions for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the North Carolina Department of Emergency Management and other federal, state and local governments as North Carolina works to recover from Hurricane Florence.