JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- The Joint Base San Antonio-Seguin Auxiliary Airfield became a resource staging area Feb. 20 to provide relief to victims of winter storm Uri which brought sustained freezing temperatures to Texas.
Through the collaborative efforts of Texas A&M Forest Service, Florida Forest Service, Texas Department of Emergency Management, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 202 trucks of water, for a total of 3,434 pallets or 137,360 cases of water, have been distributed from the Airfield thus far.
Before emergency operations began, members of the 12th Operations Support Squadron prepared for the arriving personnel and supplies.
“The 12th Operations Support Squadron is always ready to step up and support during natural disasters,” said Geren Fawver, 12th OSS’s Seguin Airfield manager. “We cordoned off the Southwest corner of the airfield to allow setup of the operations for their winter storm relief efforts. This included setting up physical barriers on the airfield to allow the 12th FTW to continue safely conducting their flying training mission.”
The airfield is typically used by the 12th Flying Training Wing for its instructor pilot training mission.
During emergency operations, seventy four trucks full of meals ready to eat, 1,490,400 meals, were distributed, and that effort is ongoing.
Joint Base San Antonio Security Forces members also contributed to the operation.
Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Ebeling, 902nd Security Forces Squadron operations superintendent said members of the 902nd worked in shifts to initially secure the site Feb. 20 and 21 when FEMA personnel arrived and until the Texas Department of Public Safety took over security operations.
Currently, the Emergency Management Teams are continuing the 24-hour relief effort to deliver supplies to Texas counties that remain in need.
Joint Base San Antonio is comprised of three primary locations at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, JBSA-Lackland and JBSA-Randolph, plus eight other operating locations and more than 200 mission partners. The Air Force’s 502nd Air Base Wing manages the operations of the joint base, which supports about 47,000 service members. Missions in San Antonio include Air Force basic training and special warfare training, as well as a variety of Army medical training.