Eglin's "Batman" uses hobby, emergency training to aid tornado recovery

  • Published
  • By Chrissy Cuttita
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A recent emergency trip home turned into a superhero-like welcome for an Eglin NCO.

Worried about his family affected by recent Alabama storms, Tech. Sgt. Charles Batson took leave from Eglin's safety office to help his hometown county May 3.

When he learned everyone was safe and sound, he began to help the neighboring town of 2,200 people who now call him "Batman." An EF-3 tornado tore through the town leaving the surrounding area without power or communications. Approximately 90 percent of the city's infrastructure was destroyed.

"This will be an ongoing process for a couple of weeks until each need is met," Sergeant Batson said about his involvement in helping non-profit organizations rebuild Cordova, Ala.

Witnesses there said he didn't just help his relatives, but coordinated anyone's aid requirements using an amateur radio he got for Christmas. With the ability to create a radio network, communication was established to connect non-profit organizations and emergency responders with tornado victims. People continue to contact their "Batman" via email since he returned to Eglin after his initial May 2-6 trip.

Sergeant Batson initially volunteered to be part of the Community Emergency Response Team there as he does near his home in Navarre, Fla.

"I've always been interested in emergency management," said Sergeant Batson who got involved with community relief efforts as a member of the Civil Air Patrol during his college years. Since then, he has volunteered with agencies like Federal Emergency Management Administration and local first responder operations.

Jimmy Dill, a Walker County, Ala., emergency coordinator, said the sergeant's training aided a team of people responding to a devastated community whose entire downtown was destroyed.

"We had a number of people who were never involved with a (radio) net, but that was not the case with Charlie. He was very professional and ready to perform any task asked of him," said Mr. Dill. "I can't say enough about him and his dedication to helping others."

Warren Okeson, Heart to Heart International volunteer, said he heard of "Batman" when he delivered a mobile medical unit from Olathe, Kansas, to replace Cordova's only clinic that was completely destroyed April 27.

"I needed to get acquainted with the man on the radio," he said. "Upon arriving, he guided me to the community center and directed where the medical unit should be set up. That afternoon, while observing activities in the parking lot and inside the center, it was evident what was behind a lot of the order to things amid all the chaos."

"They know who 'Batman,' is," said Sergeant Batson. "I was 'it' for the first three days, until I left them with five trained radio operators. Our goal was to bring back a sense of normalcy, give people a place to live and have the necessities of life, meeting basic needs."

Moments like witnessing a need for baby formula met within an hour, provided the instant gratification that let the NCO know he "done something good."

Community support is something Sergeant Batson said he shares as a family tradition. While he and his daughters help where they can providing tornado relief, his parents host bonfires at their house in effort to gather and feed neighbors and volunteers. Now, on their own time, the family individually volunteers in Alabama, answering emails for help weekly.

"He thinks of others a lot," said Michael Burke, Chief of Weapons Safety and the sergeant's supervisor. "He expertly coordinated emergency aid and critical supplies between local, state and federal authorities by his prompt action and humanitarian regard for his fellow man."

But the work doesn't stop here for the NCO who will continue to be the same "Batman," on the same net channel. His example has even led others to join his crusade.

"I came away from the week spent with Charles much better educated about crisis response and volunteer opportunities that exist in every community," said Mr. Okeson. "The influence Charles had on me personally will make me better equipped to respond to any crisis whether in my home community or to another Cordova. I'm now studying Community Emergency Response Team and FEMA training material. Also, I'm studying to receive my amateur radio license; this all due to the influence Charles had on me."