Katrina and Keesler AFB

[wvrevy]

Has anybody seen or heard anything from Keesler AFB in Biloxi ? I did my tech schooling there, and the only thing they have on their website (which is, surprisingly, up) is that they had "extensive damage" and the commanding officer won't allow people out of the shelters there for a couple of days to return home.

Anybody seen anything on the news about Keesler ? It's been pretty rough watching the footage of Biloxi, Gulf Port, Slidell...all those places that I used to hang out in my early Air Force days.

 

[ToriLammy]

I'd be curious too since I also went to Tech school at Keesler. DH read a message from his base that states the AF is stopping all assignments to and from KAFB until further notice. Those enroute need to call the nearest AF base to find out what to do so that makes it sound pretty bad. All those basic trainees at Lackland due to graduate and go to Keesler will now probably have to stay at Lackland in casual status - eww...

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=3784040

WASHINGTON Widespread flooding and high winds from Hurricane Katrina damaged Keesler Air Force Base and Camp Shelby in Mississippi.

Keesler suffered extensive damage to base housing, training facilities and industrial areas from raging flood waters that were up to four feet deep.

There are no injuries reported at the Biloxi base.

Flooding and downed trees also battered buildings at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida.

Army officials were en route to Camp Shelby in Mississippi, where power had been knocked out, and fallen trees and flooding had done some damage. The base wasn't evacuated, and there were no early reports of injuries.

Navy officials are still evaluating the damage to bases and facilities in the area, including Naval Station Pascagoula in Mississippi and Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida. Two Navy frigates were moved from Pascagoula before the storm hit, and were still out at sea.

 

[bsnyder]

I saw this statement on their website earlier today:

** HURRICANE KATRINA INFORMATION **

KEESLER UPDATE:

Keesler Air Force base has survived a direct hit by a Hurricane Katrina a Category 4 hurricane. Initial assessment shows extensive damage to our industrial and housing areas. We are deploying assessment crews and are in contact with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and with commanders of many military bases who have offered assistance. The damage is severe enough that we are unable to leave our shelters until Thursday at the earliest in order to assure our recovery teams have cleared debris and made it safe for us and our families to return home. Brigadier General Lord and your leadership promises to keep you apprised of the progress of our recovery teams and release you to go home and assess your own damage as soon as it is safe for your family to travel. All pets at the Keesler pet shelter are in good health and weathered this extremely dangerous storm safely. We are doing everything within our power to clear the way and provide the best immediate and long term assistance to help each one of us in order to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brigadier General Lord wants you to know we are not alone and will do everything we can to keep you safe and get you home as soon as possible. Please be patient. We all need to pull together and help us all make it through this difficult time safely.

 

[wvrevy]

Yeah, that's the statement that is still up on the site. Was just wondering if any news stations had shown any footage of how the base faired. Certainly doesn't sound very good.

I feel for the folks still at Lackland, too. Certainly not something that every recruit wants to endure. In fact...most of us couldn't wait to get outta that place...lol

Thanks for the updates, and if you see anything else, please post to this thread!

 

[poohbear1029]

you can check for updates on Keesler at www.af.mil as well.

 

[ToriLammy]

Well, even with the disaster Keesler is still probably restricted airspace so no helicopters flying over it right now, I'm pretty sure reporters aren't allowed on the base yet either. We'll see pictures when the AF feels we need to see pictures - but more than likely they'd rather folks concentrate on the locals cause the Air Force well, they take care of their own Heck, the base is probably helping out the community too.

 

[bsnyder]

Yeah, that's the statement that is still up on the site. Was just wondering if any news stations had shown any footage of how the base faired. Certainly doesn't sound very good.

I feel for the folks still at Lackland, too. Certainly not something that every recruit wants to endure. In fact...most of us couldn't wait to get outta that place...lol

Thanks for the updates, and if you see anything else, please post to this thread!

Sorry wvrevy - I obviously didn't read your post very carefully! I think I'm on internet overload!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

here's some local links over there--you might go through and see if you can find pics.

I wouldn't know what I'm looking for--some of the slide shows aren't labeled with locale.

http://www.wlox.com/ ABC/Biloxi
http://www.wxxv25.com/ FOX/Gulfport

 

[stm61]

we have someone from our shop at Keesler now. He's been told they will not start classes for at least another 3 wks. He's basically stuck there for the duration, probably be put to work cleaning up. He's not happy because he has a wife and newborn at home. He's also having job issues, he's guard and had to take time off from work so his employer isn't happy about him not being back on time.

 

[BuckNaked]

I received some pictures from Keesler this morning, and they are incredible. The devastation in incredible, and so sad.

We did our tech training at Keesler too, as well as numerous TDYs over the years. We were watching the coverage of Biloxi last night, and we were amazed at the fact that we didn't recognize ANYTHING.

wvrevy, PM me later, and if you want to see the Keesler pics, I'll e-mail them to you tomorrow.

 

[cavepig]

I would be interested too on any info on Keesler. My aunt and her family live in base housing and have heard nothing on the state of things. Luckily they evacuated north. I read that they evacuated the hospital due to power outage, but they have a working sewage system. They have like 6000 people in the shelter there. That's about all I know from reading on the internet.

Thanks