Dorms provide shelter for Tinker families displaced by ice storm

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

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- First sergeants and associate units here worked together to keep on-base families warm and in powered environments in the aftermath of a Dec. 10 ice storm.

The mission -- providing emergency shelter for Tinker personnel and their families -- began that same evening when the 72nd Medical Group first sergeant, Master Sgt. Lisa Sears, heard several 72nd MDG personnel were without heat and power and had infants at home.

Within three hours of being notified, Sergeant Sears said she had obtained 30 unused dormitory keys to distribute to suffering families. By the second day, she had about 100 more keys to give out.

"This was important because families were going days without water, heat or even a good meal," said Sergeant Sears, who also served as coordinator of the emergency shelter project. "Many families with small children were living in houses that were colder inside than the outside weather."

Along 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.

Other Tinker AFB units also provided space to house families without power. Among them was the 3rd Combat Communication Group's initiative, "Operation Provide Warmth." In addition to providing base families with heat and power, the "3rd Herd" also offered satellite television, shower facilities, games, crafts, hot beverages and snacks in the heated equipment bay until dorm space became available.

Captain Vile said that at the height of usage, more than 120 families, including 200 dependents, were in 152 rooms within four dorms.

As of Dec. 17, nearly 100 families remained in the dorms as crews continue to make repairs.