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Hard work caused Tinker to re-open over Christmas holiday

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Planning is everything and the mission doesn't cease for a snow day. Just ask the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate, "Snow and Ice Control Team" and Balfour Beatty Communities' folks.

This past Christmas Eve, the Oklahoma City metro area was pummeled by a New England-style blizzard. Accumulation at Tinker totaled 6 to 9 inches, but winds raced at 50 knots-an-hour causing a white-out and snow drifts that were several feet deep. Despite the dangerous conditions, personnel from the 72nd CE, Snow Control team and Balfour Beatty worked around the clock for several days after the storm to ensure the base was safe for residents and employees, and the mission would continue.

"It was a multi-party execution of a plan that was choreographed very well," said Robert Bruce, 72nd CE chief of the Service Contracting and Surveillance division. "Everyone had to do their responsibilities and it went very smoothly."

The Dec. 24 storm began in the wee hours as light rain. By 8:30 a.m., it was freezing rain and changed to snow before 10 a.m. By 1 a.m. Christmas morning, the snow stopped, said Matt Albertson, 72nd Operations Support Squadron weather technician.

But, Tinker personnel were on the scene long before the storm hit. Having been forewarned of the impending elements, Snow Control operations began at 10 p.m. on Dec. 23. Following Tinker Air Force Base Plan 32-1002, or the "Snow and Ice Control Plan," the crews executed it to a "T," said Ben Barker, 72nd OSS Airfield manager.

The plan, a 37-page document, captures the intent of Tinker's senior leaders through outlining courses of action for multiple parties should there be a need to clear ice or snow. The plan lists priorities and responsibilities for various and necessary operations while providing flexibility for key-decision makers to meet mission needs. Ranked first, second or third priority, the plan maps the order in which airfields, roads, gates and parking lots should be cleared. Furthermore, the plan outlines unit responsibilities to facilitate work force safety and mission execution.

The clearing of 2.5-million square yards of runways, taxi areas and overruns, plus 66 miles of driving lanes was performed by Tinker Support Services. Overseen by TSS pavement supervisor Earl Rooms, up to 16 personnel worked the areas.

"In the overall scheme of everything, we have alert aircraft that need to be able to get in the air," Mr. Rooms said. "If we have a tasking, an emergency or something like that, the mission must continue and we are here to ensure it does. So, the snow crews have to perform."

Additionally, Mr. Barker said crews did tests, including a runway condition reading, to ensure the airfields were functional for incoming and outgoing aircraft. The RCR determines the slickness of the runway. To test it, airfield management crews drove on the runways at 30 mph and hit the brakes every 1,000 feet. By Christmas morning, there was a good reading for the main runway and it was deemed operational.

While TSS crews worked the airfields and base streets, TRACE contractors cleared the areas around the base chapel, the religious center, child development center and the east side of Bldg. 3001. Balfour Beatty contractors cleared the streets, sidewalks and paths in base housing. Facility managers and volunteers helped clear and sand the sidewalks around their facilities.

Beginning at 5 a.m. on the day of the storm, Balfour Beatty contracted crews began treatment on the intersections and bridges. As snow accumulated, crews removed it and worked until Dec. 30 before declaring the job completed.

"Although the storm took several days to cleanup, the crews did an outstanding job at efficiently clearing roadways for accessibility in and out of family housing," said Cindy Murillo, senior community manager for Balfour Beatty Communities' AMC West. "In addition, we utilized our voice broadcast system and residents were kept informed as to the status of the snow removal situation as it progressed."

Having the storm strike Christmas Eve proved to be both a blessing and a curse. Fewer people were on the roads and very few had to come to work, which was a benefit, but because of the conditions, dozens of abandoned cars were left in the roadways.

"Crews couldn't plow many of the areas because of the abandoned vehicles, so we improvised and had a tow company move the cars to nearby parking lots," said Gene Gallogly, 72nd CE director. "We didn't impound them and charge folks as they did downtown, but we had to get them out of the way."

Additionally, working around holiday schedules with fewer people on-call also proved to be an issue. All in all, the base populace and leadership seemed pleased with the clean-up of the storm.

"This is about a bunch of people working together to execute the plan to ensure mission success," Mr. Bruce said.

Webb Littlejim, 72nd CE Operations Functional Area staff member and Snow Control expert, agreed.

"It's been a total Team Tinker effort," Mr. Littlejim said.