Grand Forks AFB hosts FEMA flood supplies; officials thankful they weren't needed

by Tim Flack
319th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

5/3/2013 - GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- Grand Forks Air Force Base served as a staging area for Federal Emergency Management Agency flood supplies that, thankfully, weren't needed this week.

About 10 semi-trailers full of supplies - everything from drinking water to blankets, food to baby wipes - arrived April 29 as the state braced to battle possible flooding, according to Air Force Col. Craig Trammell, the Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for North Dakota.

Trammell was on the ground at Grand Forks AFB with Col. Carol Reece, the Region Emergency Preparedness Liaison Officer for FEMA Region VIII, which encompasses six states, including North Dakota.

Trammel said one of his duties is to help establish and maintain seamless relationships with Air Force officials at both Grand Forks AFB and Minot AFB so that the entire team can effectively respond to any sort of emergency.

He lauded 319th Air Base Wing personnel at Grand Forks AFB for providing world-class support of the mission.

Maj. John Volcheck, 319th Civil Engineer Squadron Operations Flight commander and Base Flood Fight officer-in-charge, and Norm Becker, Emergency Management & Readiness Flight chief, worked closely with Trammell and Reece this week as the water in the Red Valley rivers slowly crept up before finally cresting under expected highs Wednesday.

"Grand Forks has the history of being in this flood fight before," Trammell said. "The level of support out here is fantastic and finely honed. They've been very responsive from the very beginning."

Volcheck said preparations for any potential flood fight here start months in advance, when he validates what resources and assets Grand Forks can offer if needed. That way, he explained, Grand Forks can provide the plan to Trammel to say, "Here's what we're bringing to the fight this year."

Preparation is absolutely key to making this sort of mission a success, explained Becker. The visiting officers worked out of the Emergency Operations Center.

Trammell said all the work that Grand Forks puts into preparing for possible emergencies doesn't go unnoticed. He forwards the base's flood flight plan to his own higher headquarters so officials there know what sort of support, exactly, Grand Forks can provide.

"They do it fantastic here," Trammell said.