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JERSEY SHORE PROFILE
BLACK SHEEP, continued from page 42
Command System and in coor-
dination with FEMA (the Federal
Emergency Management Agency).
During big weather events, like
Superstorm Sandy, the Coast Guard
often requests the OASS to take
pre-and-post-storm photos of mari-
nas and other parts of the coast.
On October 29, 2012, Sandy made
landfall just north of Atlantic City
as a post-tropical cyclone with hur-
ricane-force winds during a full
moon tide. The storm devastated
New Jersey as it moved inland.
Afterwards, the photos by the OASS
provided important before and after
comparisons as well as assessments
useful in obtaining funds for restor-
ing the devastated shorelines.
According to Mike Maino of
Lanoka Harbor, the public affairs
specialist for the OASS, the organi-
zation began in 2000 when three
pilots discussed aerial services with
Wayne Ruppert, an Ocean County
undersheriff at the time. The squad-
ron has been operating since through
a "memorandum of understanding"
that is renewed yearly with Sheriff's
Office. In the early days, the OASS
shared operations space with the
New Jersey Forest Service at Ocean
County Airport in Bayville.
"The OASS, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,
began flying their first missions in
2001 with financial support from the
Ocean County government, mainly
for fuel and donations of equip-
ment and services," said Maino. This
continued on page 46
courtesy
of
OASS
courtesy of OASS
