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Westover Planes Evacuate in Anticipation of Storm

  • Published
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass --  Westover officials decided Sunday afternoon to evacuate most of its fleet of C-5s to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy's landfall on Monday. Two aircraft will remain on base.

Base meteorologists forecast gusts up to 57 mph Monday night, prompting the evacuation.

Each of Westover's 16 C-5Bs cost around $179 million.

"The public has nearly three billion dollars invested in Westover's 16 C-5s, and we're taking the steps necessary to protect the aircraft," said Col. Jeffrey Hancock, 439th Airlift Wing Vice Commander. "We're also glad to be partnering with FEMA and are preparing to support any search and rescue operations."

A 30-person Federal Emergency Management Agency staging team arrived here Saturday. By Sunday night, 77 tractor-trailers are scheduled to arrive at the base loaded with meals, cots, bottled water, generators, tarps, and other emergency supplies, as FEMA stages at Westover, preparing to deliver emergency supplies across New England.