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Weathering the storm together

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  As the rain fell, some took shelter in their dorm rooms, with duffel bags full of water bottles and Meals Ready to Eat. Others comforted their spouses and children as they anxiously awaited the storm in their homes or shelters; many drove away from threatened areas on the Delaware highways. A few took their places at the emergency operations center, ready to orchestrate the logistical labyrinth of emergency response and management. Though separated, Team Dover was united by a common experience: weathering Hurricane Irene.

Before the storm, dozens of Airmen gathered at the outskirts of the flightline to fill more than 2,000 sandbags used to reinforce buildings and hamper flooding at base housing. Airmen from the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron roamed the base in forklifts and trucks, finding and fixing potential hazards.

A C-5M Super Galaxy or C-17 Globe Master III, representative of the Airlift missions conducted from Dover AFB, was evacuated every hour for 18 hours from the potentially damaging winds by members of the 3rd and 9th Airlift Squadrons. The 9 AS spun up 58 crewmembers, more than 20 percent of their force, in fewer than 48 hours.

"We were able to move five aircraft, including one from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., on short notice," said Lt. Col. Halsey Burks, the director of operations with the 3 AS. "For us, it was a normal, day-to-day operation."

More than 50 family members were bused from areas of base housing where flooding was considered a serious threat during the middle of the night to safer lodging.

Ultimately, Dover AFB was spared serious damage due to Irene losing strength during its trip up the coast. Team Dover shook off the effects of the hurricane and returned to normal operations within a few days.

"[Dover AFB's] preparation enabled the base to return to full operating capacity faster than anyone else could have," said Lt. Col. Travis Condon, the deputy commander of the 436th Mission Support Group.

"As we now switch to recovery actions, our necessary cleanup and repair will be minimal thanks to your efforts preparing for the worst before the storm arrived," said Col. Mark Camerer, the commander of the 436th Airlift Wing.