Aftermath of a disaster

  • Published
  • By Col. Robert L. Maness
  • 377th Air Base Wing commander
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  The last two weeks at Kirtland Air Force Base proved to be very challenging. Extreme cold weather tested our abilities to respond in an emergency and take care of our people.

Across the base, as temperatures plummeted to below zero degrees, many facilities sustained severe damage.

More than 150 families were displaced from base housing and hundreds of work buildings were uninhabitable, having no heat or water for days.

Hundreds of employees and volunteers across the Air Force Materiel Command, the base, and the surrounding community worked around-the-clock to restore heat to buildings, repair broken pipes, clean up debris, and ensure our displaced Airmen and their families were taken care of.

The response was a total team effort and commitment that went beyond the boundaries of the base. Kirtland Family Housing officials worked with various hotels in the community to ensure rooms were available for temporary lodging. Civil engineers from Kirtland were joined by teams of plumbers from installations across the command to expedite repairs. Mission partners throughout the base provided 24/7 "fire watch" operations to monitor any additional damage that might have occurred. Both the Emergency Operations Center and Crisis Action Team were activated to provide oversight and guidance.

Throughout the last two weeks, people across the base "rose to the occasion" and went above and beyond to ensure the safety of our Airmen and the continuity of our operations.

Although, as of this publication, 26 families are still displaced and there are still some buildings without heat, there is still a lot of work ahead. Damage estimates are in the millions and some buildings will be unusable for several months. Yet, the hard work and dedication displayed by Team Kirtland members is unsurpassed.

We owe our deepest gratitude to each and every one of you who lent a hand and went above and beyond during this crucial time. Overcoming adversity and displaying service before self is a hallmark of military service and was evident throughout this crisis. You displayed the aggressive Tiger spirit our wing heritage is built on and I thank and salute you for your outstanding efforts.