News>940th Wing Reservists respond to rising floodwaters
Photos
SSgt Johan Kampfraat from the 940 CES sloshes through more than two feet of water during the December UTA at Beale AFB, Calif. With water rising all over the installation the 940th Civil Engineers and Security Forces Squadrons sprang into action. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Dana Lineback)
Water from the flood reached more than three feet in some places on Beale AFB, Calif., during the December UTA. Members of the 940 CES quickly filled sandbags to prevent more flooding around the base while others cleared downed trees and power lines. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dana Lineback)
As the sky cleared, flood waters continued to spill over the entrance to the CATM range on Beale AFB, Calif. Dec 2. During the flood the 940th Security Forces diverted traffic from flooded roads and secured areas where power lines had fallen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dana Lineback)
After the storms passed through on Dec. 2 flooded areas were visible all over Beale AFB, Calif. The 940th Civil Engineer and Security Forces squadrons were praised for their quick response during the flood saving hundreds of thousands of dollars of base assets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Dana Lineback)
12/4/2012 - BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Heavy rains and high winds pounded Beale Air Force Base, Calif., early Sunday morning as 940th Wing reservists reported for duty on the December Unit Training Assembly weekend.
The 940th Civil Engineering and 940th Security Forces squadrons had just settled in for a day of training when the call for help came in. Water was rising quickly all over the installation. Streets were flooding, power lines and trees were downed, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets were being threatened.
With most of the active duty responders unable to get on base due to flooding of area roads, the Reserve squadrons sprang into action.
"One of our first tasks was to clear downed trees and power lines from base housing," said Tech. Sgt. Chad Newberry, a 940 CES Operations Management Air Reserve Technician. "We dispatched a loader to unblock the streets so emergency responders and base leadership could get in and out of that area."
Bridges over waterways on base rapidly became dangerous. Three members of the reserve squadron were sent to Beale Lake Bridge. With a backhoe, a front loader and a grader, the trio cleared 60 yards - the equivalent of 5 dump trucks - of sediment and rock debris.
Meanwhile, in the Civil Engineering complex, the squadron's power production team waded through chest-deep water to pull generators out of one building while another team worked to cut power to an electrical panel completely underwater in another building.
As additional tasking poured in from across the base, 940th Security Forces responded, diverting traffic from flooded roads and putting barriers up on bridges, closing gates to the base and securing areas where power lines had fallen.
The 940 CES dispatched a high-reach bucket truck to restore power to the housing area and other members of the squadron were tasked with filling sandbags. Yet another crew salvaged printers, computers and other supplies, including pesticides, from the entomology shop on base where flood waters had reached the three-foot level inside the building.
Master Sgt. Thundercloud Hirajeta was the Standby Duty Officer for the 9th Civil Engineering Squadron that day.
"Sunday's response was a great effort on the part of everyone involved," said Hirajeta, the 9 CES Heavy Repair Element Chief. "It was an example of how the reservists play their part in our mission. We could not have recovered this base in such a short time without the 940th Wing working hand-in-hand with the active duty here."
