CES aids ice storm recovery ops Published Feb. 11, 2010 By Mike Joseph 502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- After a severe winter storm blanketed southwestern Oklahoma with a destructive layer of ice Jan. 28, nine members of the 802nd Civil Engineer Squadron assisted with recovery efforts at Altus Air Force Base, Okla. With ice accumulations exceeding 1.5 inches, the storm caused significant damage to Altus, completely knocking out power and damaging power lines, facilities and communications throughout the base. Lacking enough equipment and manpower for the recovery efforts, Altus officials requested assistance through Air Education and Training Command. AETC officials contacted Lackland for help Jan. 29 and the first volunteer team was on the road the next morning. "My father raised me that when your neighbor calls for help, you don't ask him why," said Jerry Delp, a lineman from the 802nd CES. "You just put your boots on, get your tools and go help, because it might be you who needs help one morning." Two Lackland teams, all volunteers, arrived Jan. 31 with two 200-watt generators and two bucket trucks. They returned home Feb. 6 after full power was restored the previous day; Altus resumed normal operations Feb. 8. "It took forever," said Mr. Delp about the first team's two-day journey. "We were pulling two big generators, (and could only run) 30 to 45 miles an hour." The first group included Mr. Delp, Staff Sgts. Dustin Record and Armando Irizarry, all linemen; Tech. Sgt. Marlon Robles, an electrician; and Senior Airman Jared Mahaffey and Staff Sgt. Brendan Wendt, power production personnel. The second team made the trip in one day, which consisted of power production personnel Richard Collins and George Castro, and lineman Shannon Holte. "Once we were given the green light, it was a matter of rounding up the personnel who could leave with the skills that were needed," said Master Sgt. Richard Ruiz, 802nd CES electrical systems superintendent. "Most of the ones who went, found out about 7 o'clock Friday night (Jan. 29) and less than 12 hours later they were getting ready to hit the road." Sergeant Ruiz said the initial call was for linemen and two power production personnel but more power pros were requested the night of Jan. 30. He said there were only four generator people at Altus and with all the generators being used, more assistance was needed for maintenance and monitoring. Sergeant Ruiz said he communicated with the squadron members daily, who were housed in the CE building upon arrival and later moved to one of the dormitories after a generator provided power. While warm at night, the volunteers fought the elements during the day. "When we arrived, it was cold; everything was covered in ice," Mr. Delp said . "Monday and Tuesday (Feb. 1-2), there was a heavy ice fog on everything so you'd get drenched. Wednesday, it rained all day and it was 31, 32 degrees so we were sopping wet. But Friday was a bluebird beautiful day." Working 12-hour shifts, the Lackland volunteers repaired circuits, checked connections on utility poles, replaced lightning arrestors, reconnected and repaired downed primary and secondary lines and trimmed trees. "We had the only hydraulic chainsaw so we were assigned to clear all the trees off the primary lines," Mr. Delp said. "They were covered in ice. That was quite a challenge because a lot of trees couldn't be trimmed like normal." In addition to Lackland, Altus also received manpower and equipment support from Sheppard and Dyess Air Force Bases, and Vance AFB, Okla. Sergeant Ruiz said Lackland was also prepared to provide more assistance had it been necessary. Because of conditions on base, the 97th Air Mobility Wing commander issued a limited evacuation order Feb. 2 directing non-mission essential personnel and their dependents to depart the immediate area to locations within 250 miles in order to find temporary lodging. The order was rescinded Feb. 5 when power was restored to base facilities.