Team Offutt supports tornado victims

  • Published
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  From care packages to military discounts, and from fireworks shows to picnics, Team Offutt has historically enjoyed a tremendous amount of community support from around the local area and state.

Recently, the base had the opportunity to return the favor as more than 40 individuals from across the installation assisted with clean-up and recovery efforts following a simultaneous strike of two tornadoes June 16 in northeastern Nebraska communities of Pilger and Wakefield.

According to reports, nearly 75 percent of Pilger was destroyed, two individuals were killed, including one child, and 16 were critically injured.

"I'm proud that we could play a role in assisting these communities as they work their way through their recovery efforts," said U.S. Air Force Col. Gregory Guillot, 55th Wing commander. "We're not only members of Offutt, but also of the local community and when something like this happens, we are honored to help our fellow citizens."

The relief efforts by the members of Team Offutt included collecting and distributing supplies to homeless survivors, debris removal and separation of household goods among other things.

"Helping each other out is the American way," said U.S. Staff Sgt. Daniel Hinsley, 55th Contracting Squadron, who helped organize his squadron's relief efforts. "In any disaster there are many individuals who may need help and the military has always had an active role in supporting the community."

"This experience made each volunteer truly grateful and blessed to be able to give back much needed support to these communities," he added.

Other members of the base started a water and energy drink drive for not only the victims, but also for the volunteers who were working recovery efforts in the squelching heat.

"Supporting our community is important because the smallest good deed can get people thinking as to how they can help as well," said U.S. Staff Sgt. Tad Mendez, 338th Combat Training Squadron airborne mission system specialist, who along with U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ashley Roa, 338th CTS airborne mission system technician, organized the donation effort. "When one person puts themselves out there by doing something that is selfless, it inspires other people to help."

As a unit, the 338th CTS collected 213 cases of water and 80 cases of energy drinks.

"I have never been in a state where disasters like this happen and to see people from the base that may not have been directly affected by this disaster come out to donate as much as they did was so generous and selfless to see," Roa said. "I can't imagine something like this happening, but it's comforting to know how many people step in at times of disaster."

Another key contributor to the relief efforts was members of the Offutt Fire Department. They were called upon to help locate missing pets within the wreckage and help clear debris.

"It was an honor to be called upon for the use of our specialized skills," said John Livermore, 55th Civil Engineer firefighter, who was one of five firefighters to assist.

"We were called around the city to cut metal, allowing other teams to get to the debris below," he said. "We also cut numerous trees and structures into smaller pieces so it could be removed and handpicked to assist with the school; removing salvageable furniture, books, computers, etc."

And while it will be years for Pilger to fully recover, those who assisted in the clean-up and recovery efforts should be proud they helped get these small Nebraskan towns back on its feet.

"We are humbled that we could help in this effort and we will continue to keep these towns in our thoughts as they recover from this devastating natural disaster," Guillot said. "We know they have a long way to go, but they can count on us to be good wingmen during the recovery."