Photo By Sgt. Samuel A. Nasso | Contractors, Marines, sailors and various other people aboard Cherry Point spent much...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Cherry Point Commanding Officer Col. Philip Zimmerman was very clear about one thing to staff members during a post-hurricane meeting in the air station’s Emergency Operations Center this week. No hurricane-related issue reported by residents or employees will be left unaddressed. “If you have reported damage caused by this storm,” said Zimmerman, “we will get to it as soon as we can. When that happens it will be based on priority of importance and available resources, so please be patient.”
To personnel affected by the storm, that was a promise. To the staff, it was his marching orders.
Zimmerman’s statement was particularly aimed at the people here who were affected by minor damage who might have to wait for their issues to be resolved as more urgent problems are solved.
The commander praised the patience of those who’ve had to do without essential services.
“We are now down to three houses and families with immediate needs to address – that is the easy part; then we need to concentrate on all the other damage. Although essential services are mostly restored, our job has just begun. We need everyone associated with the air station to actively participate – no issue is too small and we will answer it within our priorities and capabilities.”
He also praised the individuals who unselfishly sheltered those who were less fortunate. These “immediate responders” provided invaluable assistance to their neighbors and provided safe shelter to those in need while dangerous storm conditions and limited communications precluded officials from responding.
Immediately following the passing of Hurricane Irene, Aug. 28, facilities maintenance personnel and AMCC employees began assessing and repairing the storm’s damage to the various facilities and housing areas on Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point.
Irene, which caused extensive damage in the Caribbean last week, weakened to a Category 1 hurricane before making landfall near Cape Lookout, N.C., and struck Cherry Point in the early-morning hours of Aug. 27.
“This station has a history of faring pretty well in storms,” said Skip Conklin, the Director of Facilities for Cherry Point. “We are still assessing the damage, but what we’ve seen so far is indicative of the usual damage a hurricane brings.”
Conklin is responsible for overseeing utilities, maintenance, environmental, electrical and all construction personnel on the installation.
In the wake of Irene, restoration of electrical power has been a challenge, particularly in certain sections of base housing including Grant’s Landing and Nugent Cove due to the large amount of damage caused by numerous falling trees. In response, four electrical crews and two tree-cutting crews have been working hard to return electricity to the affected areas.
“We’ve seen a significant number of trees down and trees tend to take power lines with them when they fall,” said Conklin on Monday. “Getting electricity back to housing is a big focus for us right now.”
The Communications and Marketing Manager for Atlantic Marine Corps Communities, Dixie Lanier, said the company is committed to doing whatever it takes to ensure all residents are safe and their needs are addressed.
“Hundreds of AMCC homes have received some type of damage from Hurricane Irene ranging from missing shingles or siding, to homes uninhabitable due to trees falling on them,” said Lanier. “At this time, AMCC has relocated 11 families at Cherry Point due to extensive damage to their homes.”
AMCC is in the process of assessing all damages and working to minimize the inconveniences for those impacted by the hurricane.
Residents’ needs will be addressed in the following priority:
• Restoration of power to homes that still have none
• Removal of trees on houses and those blocking roads/driveways
• Securing of roofs to prevent further water intrusion until permanent repairs can be made
• Emergency/Urgent Maintenance service orders
• Routine Maintenance service orders
Conklin said that for him and his workers, ensuring operational readiness by restoring power to the flight line was their top priority.
“We had something in the neighborhood of 80 workers predeployed on the installation who rode out the storm to provide the quickest reaction to any incident related to the storm,” said Conklin. “Having those assets in place allowed us to have power restored to the flight line the day after the hurricane passed.”
Along with these workers, personnel at Cherry Point’s water, waste-water and central heating plants worked to maintain service in utilities systems during the storm.
“The workers at those plants are essential and have to operate whether it is bright and sunny or in this case, during hurricane conditions,” said Conklin.
He added that the installation’s overall response to the storm has gone very well thanks to adequate preparation and planning.
“The level of commitment, safety and professionalism that these workers have shown in the recovery after this storm has been outstanding,” said Conklin.
But as Zimmerman pointed out to his staff, there’s more work to be done until every air station “customer” is taken care of.
| Date Taken: | 08.28.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.02.2011 12:04 |
| Story ID: | 76349 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 183 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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