Through teamwork, Team Dover battles Sandy

Published Oct. 31, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Samuel Taylor
436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- As a bad weather system gathered strength in the Atlantic, weather specialists with the 436th Operations Support Squadron briefed the leadership of Dover Air Force Base, Del., on the emerging threat; they had been watching the storm since Oct. 21. In the days that followed, preparations were made, aircraft were moved, and personnel were evacuated.

When Superstorm Sandy made landfall near Dover AFB Oct. 29, Team Dover was ready.

Service members and their families were the top priority for Dover AFB's emergency response teams. Airmen from the 436th Force Support Squadron prepared an evacuation shelter in the Fitness Center capable of housing and sustaining approximately 200 evacuees and their pets. Others helped with the implementation of a Stop-Movement Order for service members traveling to-and-from Dover AFB, which helped ensure total-force accountability.

Also looking out for the families was the 436th Medical Group, from which three crews of family health, mental health, public health and bioenvironmental engineering technicians were dispatched to high-traffic areas.

Amid the chaos of the storm, order was sustained on base by personnel from the 436th Security Forces Squadron, who fielded phone calls - made possible by the base's communications technicians - from concerned residents, monitored the base's entry points, and helped enforce the governor's driving restrictions. Their military working dog teams were readied to assist the public during the post-storm recovery, as were the response teams of the 436th Civil Engineer Squadron Fire Emergency Services.

The gear was taken care of as well. Most of the maintainers at Dover AFB were busy long before the storm made landfall stowing away equipment, automobiles and aircraft. More work is still ahead; The 436th Maintenance Group will play a big part in the recovery phase, unpacking the now-filled hangars.

Alongside the maintainers were the "Port Dawgs," members of the 436th Aerial Port Squadron who stowed almost 200 vehicles and pieces of equipment. Undaunted by the rain and winds, the "Port Dawgs" continued to load and off-load trucks and aircraft until forced to stop by the airfield's closure.

Fondly referred to as "Dirt Boys," Airmen from the 436th CES were also undeterred by the elements, braving the storm to help preventing flooding on base. Their efforts were commended by a post on one of Dover AFB's social media outlets from an on-base resident, who said: "please pass along our thanks to the guys and gals [sic] who were out in the street sweepers keeping the storm drains clear of leaves and debris."

Through it all, support came from Airmen like Chaplain (Capt.) Joshua Rumsey, a chaplain with the 436th Airlift Wing, who lent spiritual advice, counsel and support to wing leadership as they made the big decisions in the Emergency Operations Center. Alongside Rumsey was Capt. Drew Cutler, a judge advocate with the 436th Airlift Wing Legal Office, who advised leadership on legal matters ranging from compliance with the governor's directives to the legality of towing abandoned vehicles.