Lajes Field hit with strong winds, recovery underway

by Capt. Mark Graff
65th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

2/14/2014 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- Lajes Field was hit with a low pressure weather system Feb. 13, and strong winds caused damages to base facilities and military family housing here.

Gusts as high as 100 miles per hour were reported on Terceira, the mid-Atlantic, Azorean Island where the 65th Air Base Wing is located. The 65th Operations Support Squadron weather flight recorded winds at 89 miles per hour at 12:37 p.m., Feb. 13.

"All personnel are accounted for and no injuries have been reported to date," said Col. Chris Bargery, 65th ABW commander. "We have sustained some damages to facilities, but our wing mission remains intact and our airfield is operational."

Personnel assigned to the 65th ABW - including local national employees - and U.S. Air Force tenant units were released early Feb. 13 and the wing commander authorized delayed reporting for Feb. 14.

"Throughout the entire situation, 65th Air Base Wing leaders were focused on the safety and well-being of Lajes Airmen," said Bargery. "Our damage assessment teams, first responders, emergency operations center team and Airmen at every level acted safely and conservatively."

The wing's emergency operations center and crisis action team were activated to ensure personnel safety and accountability, assess damages, direct repairs and ensure essential services remained operational. Some units - including the 65th OSS weather flight and the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron unit control center - worked overnight to provide updates and assess damage.

As of Feb. 14, personnel were reporting to work as usual.

"The base is starting to return to normal," said Bargery. "We're pleased to be opening facilities and services to our community. But we need everyone to go into the weekend and be more careful and conservative in their decision-making."

Significant damages included downed trees and limbs, portions of clay-tile roofing, downed power lines and fencing, broken street lights and some personal property damages.

Damage assessment and response teams from the 65th CES evaluated damages and completed repairs, said Maj. Timothy Barnard, 65th CES director of operations. Barnard led the unit control center and dispatched assessment teams throughout the night.

"Our teams have noted a total of 133 items damaged and we have already made repairs to 12 of those items," said Barnard. "We will continue making repairs as conditions allow. We have to be mindful of safety considerations as we send our repair teams out, of course."

One major repair the CES teams made was to restore base power, said Barnard. The majority of the base temporarily lost power during the storm.

"Our electrical crews restored power to the base in about an hour after a power feeder went down," the major said. "They isolated the broken wiring phase and re-routed power to the main base. Most importantly, we never lost power to the airfield."

Barnard encouraged Lajes Airmen to remain safe as they collect debris, especially in base housing.

"We're asking people to remain very safe and mindful that the clay roof tiles may continue to come loose and blow around. Those objects are quite heavy, so just be safe," Barnard said.

Lajes Field personnel who had personal property damaged due to the storm should work with the 65th ABW legal office to file a claim. Those who wish to file a claim should call 535-3546.

Security personnel from the 65th Security Forces Squadron worked with their Portuguese Air Force counterparts throughout the night, said Maj. Lawrence Wyatt, 65th SFS commander.

"Defenders from the U.S. and Portuguese Air Force teamed to secure some downed perimeter fences, but the base remained secure at all times," said Wyatt. "We also ensure mobile patrols occurred within base housing all evening."

U.S. Air Force personnel are coordinating response and recovery operations with the Portuguese Air Force.