LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Despite two days of torrential downpours and gusts of 55 mile-per-hour winds, Langley sustained minimal damage and flooding.
The 1st Civil Engineer and 1st Security Forces squadrons worked around the clock sand bagging facilities, locking down the base and assessing damage before, during and following the storm.
Late Wednesday afternoon, base leadership recalled essential personnel in order for them to prepare respective units for storm conditions. Reporting early Thursday, key and essential personnel assessed the damage after the first leg of the storm, which dropped nearly 8 feet of water on the installation, which boards the Back River.
"Throughout the storm, the base maintained power without interrupting critical missions or communications equipment," said Col. Matt Molloy, 1st Fighter Wing commander. "In addition, the 1st CES did a great job protecting and maintaining critical 24-hour ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) targeting support."
Base leadership met several times Thursday to ready the base for the worst yet to come. With a plan of action in hand, 1st CES and SFS support personnel assessed areas of susceptibility throughout the base, set up roadblocks prohibiting access to flooded areas, and filled and distributed sandbags where needed.
During the assessment, personnel set up roadblocks to the flooded Lighter-Than-Air end of Flightline Rd., several areas of the Air Combat Command campus, entrance to the King Street Bridge and the west-end of Flightline Rd. near the Langley NASA Research Center.
After weathering the storm, 1st CES and SFS went to work Friday, removing tree branches, repairing facility damage and clearing roadways to minimize mission stoppage and safely prepare the base for mission continuation Monday morning.
"A large area of concern is the flightline, which is under 3 or more feet of water," said Colonel Molloy. "We shut it down today after finding fish and seaweed on the taxiway. Tomorrow, we will conduct a base-wide FOD (foreign object debris) walk at noon before resuming normal flying operations."
Overall, the marina sustained the greatest amount of damage, said a 1st SFS representative, referring to the collapsed fencing, several displaced boats and feet of standing water; teams also found a boat in the (softball) infield on the east side of the base, and one displaced about 30 yards off the Back River.
On the upside, since Hurricane Isabel in 2003, all renovations and new construction weathered the storm, even after water levels reached or exceeded Isabel water levels. The Bayside Enlisted Club, which received a complete renovation following Isabel, remained dry inside with zero damage to the outside of the facility.
Standing water remains on several portions of the base, to include the flightline and Eagle Park, but for the most part, Langley received minimal damage during the storm, said Staff Sgt. Barry Loo, 1st Fighter Wing Public Affairs alert photographer, who documented the damage following the storm surges.
"Effective Saturday, essential personnel will report to respective units to assist with base recovery and cleanup," said Colonel Molloy. "The Armistead and King Street gates will reopen at 10 p.m. this evening, following an expected high tide of 5.4 inches, which is slightly above the Langley flood tolerance. In the mean time, personnel can enter through the LaSalle Ave. and NASA gates."
The Langley Base Exchange and Commissary will open as usual Saturday as well as the Army & Air Force Exchange Service gas station and shoppette. The Langley Hospital and squadrons will resume normal weekend operations.