Altus continues ice storm recovery

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Noel Zamot, 97th Mission Support Group commander, Lt. Col. Derek Oliver, 97th MSG deputy commander, Staff Sgt. Zechariah Cook, Tech. Sgt Wesley De Young, and Staff Sgt. Kelly Deppen, all with the 97th Civil Engineering Squadron, talk with Dan Scott, representative of the city of Altus power and Mike Hagy, representative of Southwest Rural Electric to discuss the down power lines outside of the Jasmine gate Jan. 30. An ice storm that hit Jan. 28 left more than 30,000 people without power around the Altus area. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Senior Airman Leandra D. Hernandez)

Altus continues ice storm recovery

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Col. Ty Thomas, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Airman 1st Class Jeremy Winston, 97th Civil Engineering Squadron, remove fallen tree limbs Jan. 30. More than 40 people volunteered to clean up the debris that littered the base due to an ice storm that hit Jan. 28. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Leandra D. Hernandez)

Altus continues ice storm recovery

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Senior Airman David Hall, Airman 1st Class Jeremy Winston, and 2nd Lt. Bryan Scism, all with the 97th Civil Engineering Squadron, remove fallen tree limbs Jan. 30. More than 40 people volunteered to clean up the debris that littered the base due to an ice storm that hit Jan. 28. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Leandra D. Hernandez)

Altus continues ice storm recovery

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- 97th Air Mobility Wing volunteers work to clean up the fallen tree limbs at the Wings of Freedom Park Jan. 30. Due to an ice storm that hit Altus Jan. 28, power outages and debris covered much of the base and town. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Leandra D. Hernandez)

Sheppard answers call to ice-stricken Texoma

Published Feb. 3, 2010
By John Ingle
82nd Training Wing Public Affairs

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- When hundreds of area residents were affected by the recent winter storms Jan. 28, Sheppard Air Force Base answered the calls for help with personnel, equipment and lodging.

A 200 kilo watt generator was sent to Electra, a town just 25 miles west of Sheppard, when severe icing caused power lines to topple under the extreme weight. Two Airmen from the 782nd Training Group's power production course are still at Altus Air Force Base, Okla., assisting in the base's efforts to get power restored to the installation. Sheppard is also housing about 70 military-affiliated people - mostly dependents - in available billeting units at the Sheppard Inn, the on-base hotel.

Despite the base going through an important Air Education and Training Command inspection, Brig. Gen. O.G. Mannon, 82nd Training Wing commander, said it's important to support local communities and other military installations when natural disasters strike.

"These are our friends and members of our Air Force family who have been affected by last week's winter storm," the general said. "We will continue to provide as much support as possible to ensure their safety and comfort needs are met."

While a Sheppard generator helps supply power to a shelter in Electra, Tech. Sgt. Esaa Ali and Staff Sgt. David King, power production instructors at the 366th Training Squadron, volunteered to leave Sheppard Jan. 31 when roads began to clear to get Altus AFB powered up again.

The two have been working 12 hour night shifts, working on the Altus AFB generators. Although the roads are clearing up there are still trees that had collapsed on power lines that need to be removed. There is no definite answer when the two sergeants will return.

There are other military counterparts helping such as members from Lackland AFB.

Sheppard is currently has 51 rooms occupied and two reservations as of Feb. 3, totaling 83 adults and 21 children.