Alyson Tinney expresses her appreciation to Capt. Van Blaylock for helping her May 22, 2013, in Moore, Okla. An EF-5 tornado, with winds reaching at least 200 mph, traveled for 20 miles, leaving a two-mile-wide path of destruction, leveling homes, crushing vehicles, and killing more than 20 people May 20, 2013. More than 115 Oklahoma National Guard members have been activated to assist in the rescue and relief efforts. Blaylock is a joint terminal attack controller assigned to the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Airmen help a resident search through the debris looking for salvageable items May 22, 2013, in Moore, Okla. An EF-5 tornado, with winds reaching at least 200 mph, traveled for 20 miles, leaving a two-mile-wide path of destruction, leveling homes, crushing vehicles, and killing more than 20 people May 20, 2013. More than 115 Oklahoma National Guard members have been activated to assist in the rescue and relief efforts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
Tech. Sgt. Rhonda Stockstill embraces husband Lendle Stockstill May 27, 2013, in the shattered remnants of their former home that was destroyed by an EF-5 tornado that ripped through their neighborhood of Moore, Okla., May 20, 2013. The Stockstills huddled under the stairs as the storm ravaged their home. Once it passed, the Airman rushed to provide medical aid to students and faculty members who were injured and trapped in nearby Briarwood Elementary School. Sergeant Stockstill is a surgical technician assigned to the 72nd Medical Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder)
by Capt. Lindsey Hahn
Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
6/3/2013 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force announced Monday, June 3, that civilian employees whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by the recent Oklahoma tornadoes will be "excepted" from administrative furlough.
While most Air Force civilian employees received their notices May 28, Tinker Air Force Base delayed notifying their employees until today to ensure all authorities were reviewed and applied to mitigate the impact on those affected by tornadoes.
"This is the right thing to do," said Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley. "Despite some facing devastating personal circumstances, our Oklahoma-based civilian employees have shown their resilience time and time again. The least we can do is remove this additional burden."
Air Force leaders made the decision to invoke Alternate Safe Haven Authorities, which prohibits furlough by law, as the Oklahoma City area endured additional deadly tornadoes last weekend. Tinker AFB sustained some damage from area tornadoes May 31 including roof damage and flooding. Aircraft were previously evacuated to Davis-Monthan AFB near Tucson, Ariz.
The authorities are retroactive to when Col. Steven J. Bleymaier, the 72nd Air Base Wing commander, directed the evacuation May 20.
Airmen throughout the state have volunteered to assist residents and fellow Tinker AFB Airmen in recovering from the effects of the EF5 tornado that ripped through the city of Moore, May 20.
More than 600 civilian and military Airmen participated in a Memorial Day clean-up event, dubbed "Helping Families Day."
"Let's show the state and the nation our Team Tinker fighting spirit by helping our fellow Oklahomans and Tinker Teammates during their time of need," Col. Bleymaier said.
"I couldn't be more proud of our Airmen and the selfless care and support they've shown for each other and their neighbors in the community," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "We will continue to support those affected by these storms in any way we can."
The Department of Defense intends to start up to 11-days of civilian furloughs July 8 to address budget cuts forced by sequestration.
Comments
6/19/2013 9:29:28 AM ET I do not see where the DOD is going to save anything with the furloughs. There are so many exemptions out there now that their numbers have to be way off. Air traffic controllers are exempt Navy ship yard workers are exempt those who lost everything in the Oklahoma tornado are exempt. Commissary workers overseas are exempt. Well we just had a huge wildfire in Colorado springs that wiped out over 500 homes. Most of those folks are DOD employees here at Peterson so I think they should be expemted too. So just how many does that leave that will actually have to serve the furlough My wife and I will both have to so that is two paychecks in one household. That is a big hit. Please DOD stop all furlough actions
Robert Bennett, Peterson AFB Colorado Springs
6/11/2013 5:44:13 PM ET Relax everyone it's all part of God's plan why worry
Holy roller, Church
6/11/2013 1:53:13 PM ET Need I say more I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under GOD indivisible with Liberty and Justice for all. Oath our GS take to serve their country same as officers. OathI NAME do solemnly swear or affirm that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God. 5 U.S.C. 3331
Kaye, MacDill
6/10/2013 9:42:02 AM ET I am pleased to hear they are going to exempt the civilians who have recently had thier lives destroyed. What I can't believe I am reading is the civilians who are talking about one team one fight...like they want the gov't to cut the military members paycheck as well. Where is the one team one fight when the tasker isn't in my job description or when they are begging for civilians to deploy. Times are hard right now for everyone the only people to blame are the government officials that WE elected not fellow coworkers.
Active Duty, MacDill AFB
6/10/2013 8:05:23 AM ET I do not understand how the federal govt can be starting up a van pool program when they are furloughing their employees. Just doesn't make much sense to me.
Jeff, Scotia NY
6/10/2013 7:58:53 AM ET Thank you HaveFaith It is going to be tough but there is ONLY One in charge
Teresa Rutherford, Eglin AFB FL
6/7/2013 3:35:50 PM ET The government is again trying to reap favorable public opinion while at the same time kicking the majority of it's employee right in the gut I am sorry for the lose they suffered but what about other loses many other employee are dealing with I think it's bull....
Steven Cooper, OKC
6/7/2013 2:30:17 PM ET John 1633 In this world you will have trouble.We have been warned by the most trusted person that ever lived on this planet. We all worry about jobs money and future. I pray and tithe and I have not felt too hungry or worried. I know that someone higher is always in control.
HaveFaith, S Dak
6/7/2013 12:33:17 PM ET Are we civil servants or civil entitled I hope that we are never faced with circumstances like those we had during WWII where nearly all Americans had to make real sacrifices like rationing fuel tires food etc planting victory gardens sending young women to work in ship tank or aircraft factories and sending an overwhelming number of our able bodied young men to war. We are lucky to have a great job with great benefits and our first priority is to serve the American people and the elected representatives that those American people voted for. Many in the private sector would be overjoyed to have low cost health insurance matching 401k contributions defined benefit pensions automatic pay raises based on longevity paid leave on all federal holidays generous sick leave and annual leave etc. For the most part government employees are nearly recession proof and very difficult to fire. I think if you are so disenchanted with what you perceive the government to be doing to you t
Civil Servant, Portland OR
6/7/2013 11:14:28 AM ET While I feel for those directly impacted by the OKC tornadoes this is certainly not in line with the direction and policy guidance for the furlough notice. That is you cannot claim hardship as a reason to not be furloughed period. This is obviously politics as usual. I have no doubt there will be many civilians in OKCTinker who were not directly impacted but will benefit anyway. We know how this works folks. Where does this stop First exempting SAPR civilians really are you freaking serious now a small group impacted by a weather event What about floods in ND Illinois and all midwest Fires in CA Hurricanes on east coast I find it amazing that we are furlough civilian first responders here but not the all important SAPR position. Wow great decision. Amazing ridiculous and not surprising. Politics as usual. Recommendation for all whowant to be exempted Create a controversy that the media will embrace. And vote out every last congressmen.
Politics As Usual, Grand Forks
6/7/2013 10:48:38 AM ET OK I get it They have lost everything. There is insurance federal aid and charitable organizations providing assistance. I can't even begin to honestly share how disappointed I am with the DOD and the AF. I've always been a proud AF employee but the AF isn't about Capital A Airman one team one fight they arent about saving money they aren't about fairness they really don't seem to be about following the rules and existing guidance. This is a BAD decision. Furloughs need to go away NOW... for EVERYONE Retirement has never looked so good. I am ashamed of our AF DOD and government.
CIV Employee Veteran, Scott AFB
6/7/2013 7:53:06 AM ET I'd like to see the comments made here why dont you post them all
jeff smith, Tinker AFB OK
6/7/2013 5:45:56 AM ET With Sequestration and Furloughs America has broken faith with Federal Civilian Workers. The claim that Civilian Workers are a vital asset to the Active Duty Guard and Reserve Components is just LIP SERVICE. We ARE NOT vital. So stop saying it. We Civilian Workers are EXPENDABLE...FURLOUGH-ABLE...INVISIBLE.
JK, JBLE
6/6/2013 5:05:23 PM ET Evacuation orders and Safe Havens are not anything new.I was issued an evacuation order from military and civil authorities in 2011 due to imminent flooding which subsequently destroyed my home along with 4000 others. I was ordered to an Alternate Safe Haven IAW the Joint Fed Travel Regulation until the threat-to-life was over. It took over 1 month for flood waters to subside in my neighborhood and the evaluation order was later cancelled. So yes had a furlough gone into effect in 2011 the fact that I had orders-in-hand relocating me to a Safe Haven would have made me an exception to furlough.
Capt, Hill AFB
6/6/2013 1:46:48 PM ET I'm confused. What does a Safe Have which is defined as Temporary storage provided to Department of Energy classified shipment transporters at Department of Defense facilities in order to assure safety and security of nuclear material andor nonnuclear classified material. Also includes parking for commercial vehicles containing Class A or Class B explosives. So I'm not seeing the connection with the exemption.
SNCO Ret, Scott
6/6/2013 10:40:35 AM ET To answer most comments it is Alternate Safe Haven Authorities which exempts these individuals from furlough and not financial hardship. Perhaps it would be better to question ASHA which is the root cause for the exempt status.
Lt, Hill AFB
6/5/2013 2:01:18 PM ET I have lost a house in a flood my mother recently passed and feel the same financial pain this is not the time to question why some is receiving a little compassion and you are not. Why are we not holding our politicians better known as the United States Government responsible for doing the job that they were elected for. Everyone knows you can't spend more money than you make. Yes hard choices must be made and this is the time when our Government including the President Congress and Senate should come together as one and make those hard choices. End the political struggle for power Repulicans and Democrats. If you can't make the decision's needed then lets make it a public vote with the options listed and live with the choices we all make
Douglas Lowther, Cheyenne Wyoming
6/5/2013 1:44:41 PM ET This furlough does not really lend credibilty to One team One fight. The active duty side was hit with Tuition Assistance going away and almost immediately there was such a commotion made that congress changed things so they got it back. Our civilian employees will be taking food off of their families tables and congress has not said a word. Hmm one team on fight I am just not buying it.
Annoyed, Tacoma WA
6/5/2013 1:21:09 PM ET I am from Moore OK and my home was damaged by the tornado. But I am against this. I will be taking leave without pay for 11 days. The reason. What happens if there is a massive hurricane that hits an Air Force base on 25 Sep That is after the furlough but those people will be just as damaged as I am now. It is wrong to single out some for better treatment no matter the reason. Maybe they should exempt single parents. They need the money as well. Maybe they need to exempt disabled workers. They also need the money. If you start giving some people preferential treatment there is no place to stop.
Jerry, Oklahoma
6/5/2013 10:54:38 AM ET @Diane My furlough notice said the same thing about personal financial hardship not being an acceptable reason to be exempt. So why are some OK residents being exempt for their personal hardship and not any other personnel across the AF We had a person whose house burned down recently total loss...he won't be exempt. I'm sure there are many others with perhaps huge medical bills for a life-threatening illness or whatever the case may be. What makes OK residents special aside from their disaster having been national news and having an influential Senator
Buckeye, WPAFB OH
6/5/2013 8:22:00 AM ET I guess that One team one fight doesn't apply any more.
Wade, FL
6/4/2013 5:02:22 PM ET I find it distasteful that he would exempt a select few out of all to be exempted. This action by SeCAF goes against the actual furlough letter that we were handed out that states personal financial hardship cannot form the basis for a modification. While i feel for these individuals what they stand to get from Insurance Charity and Government assistance is going to offset the 16 hrs per pay period that they are going to be losing while on furlough. So i am not being afforded Due Process with the furlough and not since i only have minor damage I am also being discriminated against. All this BS is making me to be a contractor or take a short notice tasking to a warzone
Annoyed Civilian, Tinker AFB OK
6/4/2013 4:25:51 PM ET Let's be clear on this. Only a few OK civs are being exempted due to their homes being destroyed. The rest of us OK personnel are still being furloughed. Let's not start the in-fighting that separates us. Playing one side against the other does not solve problems as we see in Congress. The gvt has been redistributing money from you and me to others since FDR.
Valerie Pope, Tinker AFB OK
6/4/2013 3:52:47 PM ET I agree with Jeff's comments but I would like to add that the furlough letter we received yesterday said personal finacial hardship was not a reason to be exempted from the furlough. So why exempt people that will be repaid for their losses Does anyone know how the Alternate Safe Haven Authority comes into play or where it came from
Diane, Tinker AFB OK
6/4/2013 3:23:44 PM ET That was an acceptable decision by exempting OK.Now go a step further and furlough the folks that don't need he money. They are real easy to spot.They live in the Washington DC area.Their identifying marks are they are not living from paycheck to paycheckthey can afford to go on vacation anytime they want and they are in full agreement with cutting the hard working DOD workers pay by one full 8 hr day per week til the end of SEPT. September.
Gabriel Garcia, san antonio tx
6/4/2013 2:58:50 PM ET Kudos to the Air Force for exempting from furloughs those members of the AF civilian work force who were affected by the recent tornadoes. These individuals needs help and support not furloughs. However what about other AF Civil Service employees who are also going through tremendous hardships such as a loved one dying of cancer My wife is in the last stages of her life due to overian cancer and what is the AF doing for me Nothing except handing me a furlough letter. Does the AF care that I have medical bills to pay. Apparently not.
Johnny D, Peru IN
6/4/2013 12:58:01 PM ET I appreciate the exception for OK - But from a personal note the whole furlough concept makes me sick - please the next time you hear a politician say they're for smaller government don't vote for them.
J, Florida
6/4/2013 12:37:46 PM ET I agree with Renee besides all the contributions and finacial aid these people will more than likely recieve insurance payments well over the value they actually lost. Grant them excused leave for what they need to get thier lives back together but other than that I don't see any reason they should be exempt from the furlough. Although I'd have to admit I'd be smiling if the shoe was on the other foot knowing I would be better off and not going to be affected by the furlough.
Jeff Smith, Tinker AFB OK
6/4/2013 12:04:52 PM ET That is great news for these people. It would be nice if Congress would include the National Guard under the same exemptions as provided to Active Duty given the requirements of the National Guard to maintain all the same training uniforms fitness CBT's deployment schedules etc.
Christopher Poarch, Charlotte NC
6/4/2013 11:33:00 AM ET The fact that they need to even be excepted from the furlough is shameful and embarrassing to me as an American. These families should have never even had to think about this....you want to show the impact of sequestration Congress Show this photo in the Capitol Rotunda and ask yourselves why we let this happen.
Drew Buchanan, United States
6/4/2013 9:45:26 AM ET For Real Next can we exempt all blondes
ForReal, USA
6/4/2013 8:17:05 AM ET I support helping others especially in times of disaster however I am conflicted with this decision. There are many civilian families who are going through personal tragedies on a daily basis some have children with cancer others care for parents with alzheimers others recently widowed have loss the income of their partner. Those in disaster zones will receive financial aid from the government-but the rest will bear the brunt of the furlough with no help. In all of this congress isn't taking a hit they continue to draw their pay while the average civ emp will pay the price for their decisions. I guess this is not about exempting OK but the impact to the rest of the civ force and it's roll-down impact on society.
