DANVILLE, Va. – Neither snow nor ice could stop the Danville Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol during the recent winter storm.

A major ice storm left more than 30,000 North Carolina residents without power and last-minute high winds almost interrupted the delivery of about 1,200 COVID-19 vaccinations in Louisburg North Carolina.

That’s when the local chapter of the CAP flew into action, assisting with the set-up of a vaccine distribution site Tuesday.

Danville Squadron Commander Captain Michael Duncan said when Danville and North Carolina CAP members arrived to help establish the new vaccine distribution point with local medical teams, high winds toppled tables, tents and paperwork.  The volunteers kept their focus and about 1,200 vaccines were distributed to a group of people at high risk for the coronavirus.

The young cadets experienced a close-up look at how important the vaccine is to seniors. Danville Squadron Lt. Kristie Morris said CAP members were thanked repeatedly, with one woman remarking: “I’ve been cutting my own hair for a year for fear of catching the virus. Now I can go out and get it done right.”

The Civil  Air Patrol — an auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force – has been trained by FEMA to help set up “points of distribution “ during emergencies.  For Civil Air Patrol Squadrons, that distribution has involved emergency supplies after a hurricane or, as in this case,  the COVID-19 vaccine to long lines of people anxious to receive their second dose.

Five Squadron members, including three teenage cadets,  responded within hours to head to Triangle North Airport in Louisburg, North Carolina to assist with the vaccine distribution.

Photo: Danville Civil Air Patrol Senior Member Lt. Morris and Cadets Morris and Morris.