Severe winds damage Altus Air Force Base Published June 9, 2008 By Michael Fletcher 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Altus Air Force Base and the city of Altus were struck by sustained winds of 40 mph and gusts clocked at 87 mph by the National Weather Service during a storm Thursday night. Unconfirmed reports of funnel clouds were reported to local emergency operations centers. The winds knocked out the electrical grid supplying the community and Altus AFB and severely damaged many businesses and homes in the area. Despite the damage there were only two minor injuries reported. Although no aircraft were damaged on Altus AFB, numerous trees were damaged or destroyed, commercial electrical service was interrupted, some buildings sustained roof damage and the flight line was covered with foreign object debris. Many migratory bird nests with newly hatched chicks were destroyed. Essential base operations and refrigeration systems went on generator power. The next morning, hundreds of Airmen formed a line and conducted a flight line FOD walk, filling trucks with limbs and other debris to clear the runways and restore flying operations. Civil engineering started damage assessment and Airmen used chain saws and trucks to remove fallen trees and branches. Additional generators arrived from Vance AFB, Okla., Tinker AFB, Okla., and Sheppard AFB, Texas. "I'm extremely proud of the way the Airmen in this wing came together in recovering from the storm' s damage," said Col. David W. Allvin, 97th Air Mobility Wing commander. "We really had more volunteers than we could use, and within a few short hours we were conducting our flying mission again despite the fact that we were without our main power. We had Airmen lining up to assist our friends in the city of Altus with their cleanup as well. They are truly America's finest." Volunteer Airmen reported to the city of Altus Emergency Operation Center and were sent out in teams to help bring debris to street curbs for removal. I'm very happy with the relationship between the city and Altus AFB," said Lloyd Colston, city of Altus emergency management director. "Shortly after the wind hit, representatives from the base emergency operations center came to our city EOC to coordinate disaster response. The next morning, volunteer Airmen came to the forefront to help the community and assisted residents in removing debris." Commercial power was restored June 9, more than three days after the storm. Officials estimate the damage to Altus AFB at $5.5 million.