Kandahar-Soldiers from Task Force Cyclone and the Joint Sustainment Command-Afghanistan quickly coordinated relief efforts as a lethal avalanche paralyzed highways and left Afghan people trapped throughout the craggy mountains of the Hindu Kush early in the morning on February 9.

Lt. Col. Greg Estes, the JSC-A humanitarian assistance officer received news of the avalanches shortly after they occurred. He said he received a telephone call from Lt. Col. Erin Conn, the civil affairs officer with TF Cyclone, who requested assistance.

Due to the severity of the situation, Conn requested that Estes expedite the process of delivering goods. Estes immediately contacted United States Forces-Afghanistan in Kabul to request humanitarian aid for the rugged mountainous region. He coordinated with U.S. Air Force MAJ Patricia Morris, a humanitarian assistance officer with USFOR-A to ensure the process was set in motion. Estes then informed soldiers at the Bagram Humanitarian Assistance Yard to begin loading trucks with requested items to be moved to the Bagram Airfield.

“I had heard the news during our morning standup (commanding general’s daily briefing),” Estes said. “After that, I waited for the call. I anticipated the call and began to prepare our trucks with supplies.”

Within hours, food items, blankets, clothes, stoves and tents were delivered via Chinook helicopter to the area. In addition, trucks and Soldiers from the 82nd Sustainment Brigade provided assistance on Highway 1 which was blocked with snow.

Afghan National Army Soldiers were on the scene immediately to assist with rescue efforts, according to Estes. The ANA Soldiers partnered with U.S. forces to help rescue people and vehicles buried in the snow as well as deliver much needed support.

“As National Guardsmen, we were doing what we do in emergency situations back home,” Estes, a native of Ragland, said. “This is our mission. We did the right thing for the Afghan people.”

Mohammad Nader Baryalai (Jalees) the Administrative Deputy with the Ministry of Public Works for the Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, immediately requested U.S. assistance. In his request, he stated that both sides of the highway were blocked with vehicles and people were trapped

in the vehicles.

Nearly 170 people died before assistance arrived. Approximately 1,700 Afghans were rescued from the mountains throughout the following hours.

“We were untested until now,” Master Sgt. Betty Coates of Opelika, said. “Our standard operating procedure is to react as quick as possible but this moved through channels very fast.” The non-commissioned officer in charge of JSC-A civil affairs said her section had no choice but to move quickly.

“We felt like we made a difference,” Estes said.