From: bergman@AFPAN.PA.AF.MIL (CMSgt Mike Bergman)
Newsgroups: soc.veterans
Subject: Homestead AFB Destruction
Date: 25 Aug 92 20:18:32 GMT
Organization: Hq Air Force News Agency/SCC

The following is the latest we have.  Sorry, but it still has some 
formatting codes:

 
                                                                              
         Air Force News Service - Aug. 25, 1992
         
                   --677H Homestead destruction
         
         NOTE TO EDITORS:  Details of the destruction at Homestead AFB, 
         Fla., from Hurricane Andrew at this time are very preliminary.  
         AFNS will continue to provide updated reports as the information 
         on Homestead and status of assigned people becomes available. 
         
         677. Homestead destruction 
         
         by TSgt. Sarah L. Hood
         Air Force News Service
         
              HOMESTEAD AFB, Fla. -- Hurricane Andrew, a massive storm 
         packed with winds exceeding 140 mph, ripped through Homestead Aug. 
         24, left a trail of devastation and temporarily shut down 
         operations at this southern Florida base. 
              All base operations and maintenance facilities were 
         demolished, as were the base exchange and commissary, Air Force 
         officials said.  The hurricane tore roofs off the buildings still 
         standing, and rendered the fuel storage area unusable.
              Two hangars were also destroyed, along with two F-16 fighters 
         parked in one of them.
              While the runway was littered by debris, it has been cleared 
         and aircraft can park on the ramp near where the control stood 
         before the hurricane.   However, no runway lights or aircraft 
         servicing are available, officials said.
              All aircraft were flown out, except for six F-16s undergoing 
         maintenance.  The fighters were evacuated to Shaw AFB, S.C., 
         Robins AFB, Ga., and the Jacksonville, Fla., airport.  The C-130 
         aircraft were sent to Maxwell AFB, Ala., and the HH-60 helicopters 
         to Lakeland, Fla.
              Fifty percent of the on-base housing was left without roofs, 
         while 90 percent of the windows in housing were broken.  All roads 
         and streets on Homestead were impassable immediately following the 
         storm.
              Nearly 36 hours after the storm laid waste to the southern 
         Florida peninsula, Andrew continued a northwesterly path across 
         the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas-Louisiana-Mississippi coasts, 
         maintaining its strength along the way.  
              Residents along those coastal areas and in low-lying inland 
         regions have been asked to evacuate their homes as the storm is 
         expected to again break landfall early Wednesday. 
              As a precaution, aircraft from Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field, 
         Fla., were evacuated, as were C-130s from Keesler AFB, Miss.
              Prior to the hurricane's onslaught, the nearly 4,600 people 
         assigned to this Air Combat Command base were told to evacuate, 
         while Col. Steve Plummer, 31st Fighter Wing commander, and a 17-
         person support staff remained behind.  
              Plummer is now asking everyone to stay away from the base for 
         at least another five days.
              Two toll-free numbers are being set up to help military 
         individuals affected by the hurricane.  One number will allow 
         Homestead-based airmen to check in and establish their whereabouts 
         with base officials, while the other will be for people seeking 
         information concerning friends or relatives involved in the 
         disaster.
-- 
         
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