JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA –
As Hurricane Matthew approached the Eastern Coast of the
United States, residents of South Carolina were given an evacuation order by
Governor Nikki Haley. Based on this, Joint Base Charleston leadership made the
determination to issue a Limited Evacuation Order.
With limited personnel following an evacuation, the task of safely
storing or moving major equipment, including 28 C-17 Globemaster IIIs, from the
base’s four geographically separated locations along with evacuating almost 23,000
base employees and their families was left to a ride out team of about 400
members.
While Joint Base Charleston was preparing for the storm, an office
had already planned for this day and this type of potential disaster. The 628th
Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) emergency management flight works with each mission
partner identifying unique needs they may have for any potential emergency. The
628th CES then creates a plan to address that particular emergency and for
Hurricane Matthew. This meant not only helping to make the decision to evacuate
but preparing those who would remain on base.
Because of the diverse missions of JB Charleston, the
requirements include supplying food, water and shelter for the team members who stayed behind. Additional logistical concerns ranged from evacuating the largest
C-17 fleet in the Air Force, evacuating and finding shelter for more than 3,000
Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit students and providing support to the
prisoners and staff at the Naval Consolidated Brig Charleston.
“Many people look at joint basing as a huge challenge, and
it certainly is, but it is also a great opportunity,” said Sarah Winberry,
628th CES installation emergency manager. “We get opportunities at Joint Base
Charleston other installations never get to experience.”
Once every mission partner has an established plan for each
emergency, the 628th CES emergency management flight, compiles a list of
supporting agencies. These agencies provide mission partners with the resources
to survive the storm along with a team to begin the recovery process after the
storm passes. The team remaining on base during the storm is known as a “ride-out
team.” For a category two hurricane, approximately
400 members from 23 different joint base units are needed to fulfill the duties
of the ride-out team.
When the worst of the high winds and heavy rains from
Hurricane Matthew subsided Saturday, the ride- out team, led by the 628th CES
operations flight, began assessing the damage and restoring the base to full
operational status.
“Our ride-out team was phenomenal,” said Danny Dean, 628th
CES operations flight deputy director. “The ride-out team worked so effectively
I was able to tell our recovery team they didn’t need to return until Tuesday.”
As members returned to JB Charleston on Tuesday, they were
welcomed back at each gate by installation leadership from across the base.
The Emergency Family Assistance Center (EFAC) was
activated Oct. 12 to assist evacuated personnel upon their return. The EFAC is
a consolidated location where families can receive disaster relief contingency
information and services. It will remain open through Oct. 14 both on the Air
Base and the Naval Weapons Station.
“Thank you, Joint Base Charleston,” said Col Robert Lyman,
Joint Base Charleston commander. “Your performance during Hurricane Matthew was
humbling to watch. You remained calm in the lead up to the storm and in the
midst of many complicated tasks. You remained focused on those mission
essential tasks we had to complete and on keeping people safe and evacuating
families. You remained ready for the storm event itself but also to bring the
base back to its full range of readiness to support the host of joint base
missions we have here in Charleston, once again making Joint Base Charleston
the launch point for the nation’s resolve.”