Team Tinker shelters on-base families without power and heat

Published Dec. 20, 2007
By Brandice J. Armstrong
72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Tinker Air Force Base --       Tinker's first sergeants and associate units came together and proved there is no "I" in team.
     When Ice Storm 2007 struck Dec. 10 and froze roadways, trees and power lines, many Oklahomans found themselves without heat or power. When the problem hit Tinker, the first sergeants and associate units worked together to keep on-base families warm and in powered environments.
     "This was important because families were going days without water, heat or even a good meal," said Master Sgt. Lisa Sears, 72nd Medical Group first sergeant and coordinator of the emergency shelter project. "Many families with small children were living in houses that were colder inside than the outside weather."
     The mission, providing emergency shelter for Tinker personnel, began the evening of Dec. 10, when a Sergeant Sears heard several 72nd MDG personnel were without heat and power and had infants at home.
     Within three hours of being notified, the sergeant said she had obtained 30 unused Tinker dormitory keys to distribute to suffering families. By the second day, she had about 100 more keys to give out.
     With first sergeants from other units, she distributed keys to families from Air Force Materiel Command, Air Combat Command, Navy, Army, the Reserves and the Guard.
     Sergeant Sears worked with the 72nd Air Base Wing chain of command and dorm contractors to obtain the keys, said Capt. Casey Vile, of the 72nd Mission Support Group, who provided information about the emergency shelter situation.
     At the height of usage, Capt. Vile said, more than 120 families, including 200 dependents, were in 152 rooms of four dorms.
     As of Dec. 17, nearly 100 families remained in the dorms, the sergeant said.
     Other units also provided space to house families without power. Among them was 3rd Combat Communication Group Commander James Appleyard's initiative, "Operation Provide Warmth." In addition to affording base families with heat and power, the 3rd Herd also had available satellite television, shower facilities, games, crafts, hot beverages and snacks in the heated equipment bay until dorm space became available.
     According to the OG&E Web site, about 65,000 customers in the Oklahoma City metro are still without power.
     If still without power, call 3rd CCG at 734-5454 or your first sergeant.

Capt. Casey Vile, of the 72nd Mission Support Group, contributed to this article.