Storm damages Vance AFB building

  • Published
  • By TSgt M. Davis
  • Public Affairs
The Sept. 23 storm didn't rank up with Hurricane Ivan, but it did do thousands of dollars of damage at Vance Air Force Base when a building under renovation was flooded by rainwater.
Building 455 that houses the First Term Airmen Center, legal courtroom, wing safety, 71st Security Forces Squadron mobility section and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations was receiving a new slanted roof when a thunderstorm occurred.
Although the storm was small, depositing less than a half inch of rain with 18-knot winds, it was big enough to damage a building under renovation. The morning after the storm, clean up of the facility and equipment began.
"We had to move all of the loose material that was affected by the rain, so we could perform cleanup of the area," said 2nd Lt Alex Fletcher, 71st Logistics Group installation deployment officer. "We called a lot of base agencies for volunteers to help."
Cleanup efforts began immediately. Outside agencies were called in to vacuum water and dry out areas using portable fans. Base volunteers worked hard to remove rain-soaked debris, equipment and furniture.
Security forces members who had the day off and those who had just been relieved from their shift work came in to help, said SSgt Don Wright, 71st SFS NCO in charge of training.
"We had 25 to 30 off-duty Army and Air Force security forces members who came in to assist the clean up effort," he said. "They didn't have to help, but worked together to help out the squadron."
According to Sergeant Wright, expensive camera equipment, that included motion detection and infrared capabilities, was drenched in the down pour.
For the FTAC Airmen, the storm meant moving training to the family support center, said TSgt David McClelland, FTAC enlisted professional development manager.
"I would like to extend my appreciation to the FSC staff that not only allowed me to use their conference room, but gave me an office so I would have a home," he said.
All of the agencies housed in Bldg. 455 moved to alternate locations, Sergeant McClelland said. Wing safety moved to the 71st Operations Support Squadron, 71st SFS moved their gear to supply and their personnel to the SFS conference room. With the amount of repairs that need to be performed, it could be anywhere from two weeks to over a month before some agencies can move back into their offices, he said.