In fact, Dover Air Force Base, Del., reopened its airfield by 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Technical Sgt. Brian Lawrence, 436th Civil Engineer Squadron safety and vehicle control officer, credited careful preparation for the quick recovery.
“Civil engineering personnel went over the base with a fine-tooth comb to ensure everything was ready to weather the storm,” Lawrence is quoted in a Tuesday press release from the Delaware site.
The major focus was preventing flying debris and ensuring proper water drainage.
“With it being fall, we had a lot of leaves backing up our storm drains,” he noted. “We stayed on top of that issue with our street sweepers and the roads were clean prior to the storm hitting.”
At Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., close to normal operations are expected to commence today, although there is considerable evidence of the storm’s passing including fallen trees, scattered debris, some property damage, minor flooding and power outages.
“A majority of the facilities and base housing units on McGuire and Lakehurst have full power,” Maj. Chris Wedewer, 87th Civil Engineer Squadron operations flight chief, reported in a press statement. “Several power lines were downed by the storm and as a result most of Dix remains without power. We’re working to get them repaired as soon as possible.”
Aircraft, including C-17s and KC-10s, evacuated before the storm are expected to begin returning today, added Col. John Wood, JB MDL commander.
“We’re just thankful our folks weathered the storm without serious injury and that we continue to support recovery operations in the local area by hosting the FEMA team here,” Wood in quoted in the press release.
The base is housing 300 Coast Guard recruits from Cape May, N.J., and supporting FEMA Region II and III. Region II serves New Jersey and New York. FEMA III focuses on Washington D.C., Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia
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