Cleanup efforts continue at the 131st Bomb Wing just days after a category EF2 tornado hit Lambert-Saint Louis International Airport and swept across the Lambert-Saint Louis Air National Guard Base, April 22, 2011. No injuries were reported to Air National Guard personnel, but there was widespread damage across the south side of the base.

The Good Friday tornado that cut a 22-mile swath of destruction across the St. Louis area caused more than $10 million in damage to the Missouri Air National Guard base at Lambert Airport, according to preliminary damage assessments.

“Sixteen of our 25 buildings sustained some type of damage,” said Air Force Col. Kathleen Hancox, commanding officer of the 131st Mission Support Group. “The newer buildings on the south side of the base sustained the most damage.”

Hancox said damage assessments at the base began as soon as the storm had passed the night of April 22.

“We went through all the buildings with security teams and civil engineers to get a snapshot of exactly what our problems were,” she said. “At this point, to fix everything, it will take a year and cost more than $10.3 million.”

Nearly 150 civilian and military personnel are involved in the cleanup and recovery efforts at the base, which is headquarters to the Mission Support Group, the 131st Bomb Wing, the 571st Air Force Band and several other units.

The 46-acre facility was a beehive of activity Tuesday, with crews removing downed trees, collecting building debris and moving offices from damaged buildings to those that sustained little or no damage.

“We are 75 percent moved from the south side of the base to the north side and we expect to be between 75 and 100 percent operational no later than the end of the day Sunday,” Hancox said.

In addition to continued rainfall, cleanup crews were being hampered by the fact that the storm knocked out electrical power and communications at the base.

“As we stand up electrical power in the existing buildings we are also enabling telephones and computer networks,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Mark Bishop, a systems administrator with the 131st Communications Flight. “The damage was pretty extensive, so we’ve got eight people pretty much working around the clock to get things up and running. It’s been a challenge.”

Despite the many challenges still facing Air Guard officials, Hancox and others believe the recovery efforts at Lambert have been nothing short of remarkable.

“I could not be more proud of this recovery team,” Hancox said. “They are each giving 150 percent and doing what they have to do.”

“Considering the circumstances I think everything has gone pretty smoothly,” added Bishop.

Taking into consideration the pace of cleanup and recovery and that no one was seriously injured in the storm, Hancox said the Air Guard is planning a “day of celebration” on Sunday.

“We are going to celebrate the can-do spirit if the 131st Bomb Wing,” she said. “The 571st Air Force Band is going to perform and it’s going to be an opportunity for us to thank everyone who has put their heart and soul into this mission.”

By Bill Phelan
Unit Public Affairs Representative
Missouri Air National Guard

Sgt. Fadra Brown, 31st Chemical Brigade, Northport, Ala., assists the Wooley family sort through the remnants of their home in the Crescent Ridge area in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Their home is one of many throughout the state of Alabama that was destroyed by the tornado that swept through Wednesday. Photo by Spc. Katherine Dowd

About 3,000 National Guard members were responding to weather-related domestic disasters in 11 states on Friday (April 29), the majority in tornado-ravaged Alabama, while hundreds still tackled rising waters in North Dakota, epicenter of flooding challenging seven states.

In Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi, tornadoes killed and injured people and destroyed property; in Texas, drought fueled wildland fires; in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota and Tennessee, swollen rivers either escaped their banks or threatened to do so.

The rash of domestic weather-related responses seemed unlikely to abate any time soon: Officials are watching the Mississippi River and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour warned of potential major flooding.

More than 300 are dead after more than 160 tornadoes swept through seven Southern states midweek in the worst natural disaster to hit the nation since Hurricane Katrina.

Thousands were injured, many more rendered homeless and at one point at least a million were without power after the tornado swarm inflicted damages estimated in the billions of dollars, according to news reports.

It was the deadliest tornado swarm since 310 people were killed in 1974.

About 1,100 Guard members were on duty in Alabama today, and the governor has authorized up to 2,000. The president – who on Friday declared a major disaster in Alabama – was visiting damaged areas today. Guard missions included search and rescue, security, transportation and road clearing, National Guard Bureau officials reported.

The National Weather Service today reported that it rated one 205 mph, half-mile wide tornado that struck Mississippi on Wednesday that state’s first EF-5 tornado since 1966 and predicted many more of the tornadoes that struck the South will receive the same damage rating, the highest.

About 40 Guard members were providing traffic control points, security assistance and communications support in Mississippi.

More than 50 Citizen-Airmen were among the 72 Guard members helping Arkansas residents recovering from tornado damage, providing security, patrolling roads, delivering water and performing search and rescue functions.

“We’re doing all of this while we’re also deploying Airmen to support the overseas war effort, while our day-to-day … mission continues uninterrupted,” said Air Force Col. Jim Summers, 189th Airlift Wing commander.

“This is a prime example of how flexible our Air National Guard is, but it takes the support of … employers and a Guardsman’s family for it to continue to work. I can’t say enough about how employers and families have stepped up.”

A handful of Tennessee Guard members were providing aerial damage reconnaissance. In that state, Guard officials said the tornadoes had contributed to Mississippi River flooding. Tennessee Air National Guard aircraft were damaged by hail and wind Thursday, Guard officials reported.

High Red River levels affected North Dakota, where some Guard members have been on duty for more than three weeks and 311 remained on duty today.

North Dakota Guard quick reaction forces placed thousands of sandbags to protect homes. Guard members also patrolled dikes and staffed traffic control points.

Working with the Guard “has been nothing but positive,” Rick Schock, a city contractor, told a North Dakota Guard member. “They’ve been a great assistance to us.”

Some 680 Guard members were on duty in Missouri, including 563 sandbagging, monitoring levees and roads, assisting evacuees and supporting law enforcement and 115 responding to damage that hit especially close to Guard members: An estimated $10 million or more in tornado damage to Missouri Air National Guard facilities at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.

About 377 Illinois Guard members were assisting civilian authorities with route reconnaissance, levee surveillance, water deliveries and maintenance.

“In addition to their military responsibilities, our Soldiers and Airmen are also committed to their careers and families, so I am impressed with their rapid response to the governor’s call,” said Army Maj. Gen. William Enyart, Illinois’ adjutant general.

Another 213 were on duty in flood-related operations in Indiana and 15 in Minnesota.

About 128 Kentucky Guard members tackled Ohio River flooding, building barriers, filling sandbags and supporting civilian law enforcement authorities.

“I want to express my appreciation for what the Guard does,” farmer Mike Gustafson told a North Dakota Guard member. “The effort makes it comfortable for people who are dealing with the stress and the issues that could result from a catastrophic problem.

“It’s sometimes so easy to take for granted what they do, not only throughout the world for security, freedom of the lifestyle we live, but those things they do at the community level … and the presence of them here is extremely appreciated.”

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau