Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing rips out the dry wall of a home affected by the flood in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 17, 2015. Airmen across Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., volunteered with multiple organizations in the Sumter community to assist in the disaster relief efforts. During the first of the teams two day shifts, approximately 55 Airmen split into groups to undertake the repairing of homes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing and Southern Baptist Convention disaster relief members from Kentucky stand with homeowner Susan Bell during a disaster relief effort in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 19, 2015. Bell’s home was damaged by a flood caused by the storm resulting from Hurricane Joaquin, Oct. 4-5. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

A disaster relief volunteer uses a roofing shovel to remove wood flooring during a disaster relief effort to assist those affected by the storm which resulted from Hurricane Joaquin in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 19, 2015. Volunteers from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the Southern Baptist Convention disaster relief team from Kentucky paired together to assist in relief efforts for four homes. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

A disaster relief volunteer uses a crowbar to remove wood floors from a home affected by the flood in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 19, 2015. Thirty-two Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Airmen totaled 320 hours in disaster relief efforts within the Sumter community during the three day shift. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing pours bleach into a spray bottle during disaster relief efforts in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 17, 2015. To ensure the homes affected by the flood were free of mold, volunteers sprayed the remaining wood with a bleach and water blend. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing stand with a Sumter County police officer and the homeowner of a residence affected by flood waters in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 17, 2015. Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Airmen have spent the last several weeks volunteering with multiple organizations to assist with the disaster relief efforts in the Sumter area. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Carlos Ortiz Castillo, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning technician, uses a roofing shovel to remove the wood flooring of a house that was damaged by the storm that resulted from Hurricane Joaquin in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 19, 2015. Team Shaw members spent three days shift working, 10 hours a day, to assist in the disaster relief efforts in the Sumter community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

(Left) Two 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen and a disaster relief volunteer tear up wood floors at a home affected by the flood in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 19, 2015. Organizations on Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., created multiple groups of more than 85 volunteers to assist in the disaster relief efforts for the Sumter community. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

A disaster relief volunteer pulls a nail out of the subfloor of a house affected by the flood in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 19, 2015. The main focus for volunteers from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the Southern Baptist Convention disaster relief team from Kentucky was to remove the mold from the house, including in the wood floors, and to kill any remaining mold preventing new mold from growing. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Johnny Hamm, U.S. Air Forces Central Command first sergeant, pulls out moldy baseboards during a disaster relief effort in Sumter, S.C., Oct. 17, 2015. The flood, caused by the storm resulting from Hurricane Joaquin, affected approximately 600 homes in Sumter. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom/Released)

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Faces of the flood: Shaw AFB Airmen support community

Published Oct. 27, 2015
By Senior Airman Diana M. Cossaboom
20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Hurricane Joaquin loomed near the East Coast, bringing a storm that dumped record breaking rainfall on South Carolina for six days, causing severe flooding across the state.

Organizations on Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., gathered to assist the local community, providing disaster relief to those affected by the flood.

According to Sumter United Ministries, more than 7,000 people in Sumter, S.C., applied for aid through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and over 600 homes were devastated by the flood with over 250 of those homes in need extensive repairs.

"This is our chance as Airmen to give back to the Sumter community," said Senior Master Sgt. Jacob Peeterse, 20th Component Maintenance Squadron maintenance superintendent. "Sumter does wonderful things for us here on base and the chance to give back to those who are in need cannot be understated."

Shaw organizations are working with multiple disaster relief groups including Sumter United Ministries, American Red Cross, and the Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Recovery teams.

"We recognized there was a need for help in our community," said Staff Sgt. Carlos Ortiz Castillo, 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning technician. "(We) wanted to reach out and do something for the community and the people who have lost their belongings and give a little hope back to them to assure them that we are here to help."

The Air Force Sergeant's Association and 20th CES HVAC shop Airmen, just a few of the many organizations that participated in relief efforts, provided approximately 85 Airmen who assisted for more than 750 hours clearing out mold to help begin renovations of homes in the Sumter community.

The Airmen who volunteered did mostly demolition work, removing any part of the house that could harbor mold. The main focus was to leave the homes mold free and ready to re-build, said Peeterse.

Airmen assigned to Shaw Air Force Base continue to provide assistance to the affected families in what will possibly be an extended effort to return their devastated houses to homes.