Kirtland AFB responds to extreme cold weather

  • Published
  • By Marie Vanover
  • 377th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
Kirtland Air Force Base, NM --  With temperatures below zero and gas supplies to the base temporarily shut off last week, base personnel across the installation responded quickly and efficiently to minimize damage to buildings, housing and dormitories.

According to weather reports, Albuquerque and the surrounding area experienced its coldest weather in 20 years, with sub-zero lows and highs barely reaching double digits. This, coupled with wind gusts of more than 20 miles per hour, made the apparent temperature minus 23 degree Fahrenheit below zero.

Peak demand for natural gas, compounded with a supply issue with the flow of gas, caused a temporary suspension in the supply to areas across Albuquerque, including 100 percent of the service to the base. Although gas was only shut off for about 5 ½ hours, it took almost 48 hours to restore heat to some facilities and the lack of heat was just enough to overstress water pipes throughout hundreds of buildings and homes.

Due to the lack of heat, pipes burst across the base causing water damage to approximately 125 buildings; 17 of which are uninhabitable and 37 remain without heat. Additionally, more than 200 homes in Kirtland Family Housing were also damaged, displacing more than 150 residents across all housing areas.
Kirtland Family Housing officials arranged for displaced families to stay in off-base hotels.

Air Force and contractor civil engineers are working around the clock to assess damage, purge valves, reignite furnaces and water heaters, and begin the task of drying out buildings.

Although the recovery phase and damage assessment is continuing, Mr. Brent Wilson, base civil engineer, said repair estimates could be in the millions.

"The recovery phase was not only a Team Kirtland effort, but a command-wide effort," said Mr. Wilson. "Augmentees from across Air Force Materiel Command, including Edwards, Robins, Hill, Wright-Patterson, and Eglin Air Force Bases, provided teams of plumbers to assist with the recovery efforts."

Major buildings including base operations, the dining facility, youth center, bhapel, child development centers and both fitness centers, were closed because of lack of heat and water. The 58th Special Operations Wing suspended all flying operations from Thursday through Sunday. Mission partners across the base were on 24-hour operations to monitor the conditions of their facilities and report any further damage. Both the Crisis Action Team and Emergency Operations Center were activated 24/7 to provide management visibility of remediation efforts and base-wide conditions.

"This was a testament to our entire community's responsiveness and ability to persevere through trying times," said Col. Robert Maness, Installation Commander. "The efforts of everyone across the base and the local/state community -- military, civilians, contractors and volunteers -- ensured our number one asset, our Airmen and their families, were taken care of."

Rapid recovery, repair and reconstruction efforts are underway. Damage assessments are still being conducted and facility gas re-lighting was completed in 90 percent of the buildings as of Monday.