LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel carved a path of destruction across the mid-Atlantic United States, with Langley Air Force Base in the midst of the storm. Isabel flooded Langley facilities and infrastructure, severely limiting operations. The weather caused more than $170 million in damage that resulted in three weeks of emergency cleanup.
Six years later, a nor'easter made its way across Hampton Roads, reminiscent of the weather witnessed during Isabel. This time, however, the 1st Civil Engineer Squadron had the base prepared for the water and winds.
Responding to early warnings
Weather officials issued a warning at 2 p.m. Nov. 10; base civil engineers gathered supplies and readied Airmen for action.
The nor'easter, remnants of Hurricane Ida, arrived the next day.
"Before the storm, 1st CES Airmen palletized sandbags and prepared teams for Wednesday's weather," said Maj. Patrick Miller, 1st CES Operations Flight chief. "When the storm hit, we mobilized teams to deliver 25,000 sandbags to critical facilities and infrastructure."
Craftsmen deactivated vulnerable systems to minimize damage and maintain serviceability. "We shut off heating, ventilation and air conditioning units before flooding," said Senior Airman Wava Johnson, 1st CES HVAC journeyman. "Afterward, we conducted damage assessments and repairs."
The 1st CES provided wing leadership with detailed flood plans and contingency response models. Plan details included vulnerable flood areas, vehicle equipment staging areas, and protective measures for facilities and people.
"We caught this storm on the leading edge and stood ready for whatever it brought," said Major Miller.
Bearing the brunt of the storm
As waters breached Langley's water edges, Airmen monitored conditions, observed flood encroachment around sandbagged areas and made adjustments as necessary.
"Isolating generators from flooding and keeping them operational was our first priority," said Airman 1st Class Adam Torres, 1st CES power pro apprentice. "We performed hourly checks to ensure our systems were online."
Airmen worked alternating 12-hour shifts during and after the storm. Teams performed damage assessments after each high tide to calculate repair costs.
"At one point, flooding segregated the base into two halves," said Major Miller. "We stationed craftsmen on both sides of the base to monitor and maintain assets."
Bouncing back
Airfield maintainers devote approximately 200 hours per month to runway sweeping and cleaning. Once the flooding subsided, Team Langley hastily swept and cleaned the runway in just two days. Pilots resumed airfield operations by Nov. 14 at 8 a.m., just hours after the storm passed.
"We readied our flight line for operations very quickly as a result of the plans we had for this weather event," said Major Miller. "We had arresting systems and lighting online early, and got the runway and pavement cleared and cleaned for our planes to resume flying."
Team Langley concluded emergency cleanup and recovery Nov. 17, making room for contractors to begin basic cleanup and project assessments. The base's lift stations remained operational, ensuring the flow of sewage out of Langley and preventing a possible environmental disaster.
Lessons learned
After Isabel, the 1st CES implemented new construction and engineering initiatives to prevent similar damage. For example, civil engineers elevated buildings to 9 feet, well above the flood tolerance level.
"We had a maximum of a 7.8-foot tidal surge during this storm, just shy of Isabel's peak tide," said Major Miller. "Seeing our elevated buildings unharmed validated out post-Isabel changes."
In addition, engineers routed power lines underground, moved mechanical systems and administrative space out of flood-prone basements, and installed pumps to alleviate flooding. Future initiatives include replacing carpet with tile flooring, elevating power outlets, and providing facility managers with storm protocol.
"The after-action and final reports from Isabel provided us with a blueprint for what we can improve," said Major Miller. "Team Langley played a crucial role in preserving the base's assets and returning the 1st Fighter Wing back to full operational capability."