Typhoon damage update
PACAF News
12/18/2002
By 1st Lt. David Faggard Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii--Air Force members of the Pacific Air Forces continue to support relief efforts in Guam 10 days after Super Typhoon Pongsona hit the Island which is roughly three times the size of Washington D.C.
More than 200 members from PACAF are deployed to the U.S. territory from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska and Yokota Air Base, Japan.
The people who deployed are Civil Engineers, Services personnel, medical experts, aircraft maintainers and Security Forces members.
More than 30 Air Force missions on PACAF and Air Mobility Command aircraft took these airmen and supplies, including more than 1,000 tons of professional gear like a four-bed expeditionary field hospital, water tanks, generators, medical supplies and numerous building materials including items like plywood and rope, to Guam.
Guam sustained major damage from the gusting 180-plus mph Super Typhoon Pongsona that directly hit the island Dec. 8. Damage to the base included loss of power, water and major damage to base structures and more than 1,000 downed trees.
"No one from Andersen was injured," said Staff Sgt. Dale Yates, 36th Air Base Wing public affairs office.
Initially, the Hawaii Air National Guard provided some much needed relief by airlifting 19 civil engineers and other personnel from the 15th Air Base Wing at Hickam to Andersen Air Force Base with supplies, according to 1st Lt. Chris Andersen, 15th Air Base Wing, public affairs officer.
Approximately $15,000 worth of relief supplies including lumber, fencing, batteries, and other construction supplies, according to Lt. Col. Robert Boyles, 15th ABW Mission Support Group, deputy commander.
Officials said the runway was closed for a short time during the most intense part of the storm, but is open and accepting relief flights with supplies on them from the Federal Emergency Management Agency onboard.
Around 6:30 p.m., Dec. 8, Guam time, the eye of Super Typhoon Pongsona passed over Andersen AFB.
President George W. Bush declared Guam a Federal Disaster Area Dec. 8. (PACAFNS)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
