Maxwell Airmen assist city devastated by tornado

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Scott Moorman
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  More than 20 Maxwell Air Force Base Airmen teamed up with 66 Officer Training School trainees from here Feb. 19 to help people recover from a devastating tornado that leveled 150 homes in Prattville, Ala. 

The Enhanced Fujita Scale-3 tornado that swept through the city 15 miles northwest of Maxwell AFB Feb. 17 produced winds of 150 miles an hour and damaged more than 760 houses.

The Maxwell AFB volunteers were quickly put to work sorting piles of debris to simplify pick-up by city work crews.

"When we stepped off the bus, we saw pure devastation. I have never seen anything like this before," said Officer Trainee Joseph Van Valen as he and other volunteers sifted through rubble in a residential area of Prattville.

As Trainee Van Valen removed twisted metal panels from a mound of what used to be someone's home, he said he felt compassion for the resident.

"The very first thing I noticed about this house was that the kitchen was sitting in the open," he said pointing to a dwelling that was left without a roof and two exterior walls. "A kitchen is the center of any house. It's where (families) gather to get food and just seeing the kitchen open like that and seeing how devastated (they) were, that was very moving to me."

As the group moved through the neighborhood, categorizing the refuse, Prattville residents took the opportunity to search for personal items ripped from their home by the heavy winds.

Capt. James Damato, an OTS instructor who helped coordinate the base's volunteer effort, said the trainee's class schedule was rearranged to offer the community support.

"A lot of military -- retired and active duty -- live out in this community, among others," he said. "These are our neighbors. These are our families that live out here. We are doing this as outreach to our family." 

Captain Damato said he had access to a large number of people who could lend a hand in a time of crisis.

Maj. Gen. Alfred K. Flowers, Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools commander, and Col. Paul McGillicuddy, the 42nd Air Base Wing commander, toured the site and talked with local officials.

General Flowers said the disaster area broke his heart and he pledged to provide more volunteers over the next few days if needed.

"This is (a time) where the community needs our help. They help us all the time," the general said. "Now it's our time to help them.

"I want to say how impressed I am with the state of Alabama, Autauga County and the City of Prattville under the leadership of Mayor (Jim) Byard and their response," the colonel said. "It looks like they have everything under control and I just want to reiterate that we're here to help."

Colonel McGillicuddy said the Maxwell AFB community will continue to be good wingmen and assist the city as long as it takes.

"They are our neighbors and we are here to help. We are just a phone call away for each other," he said.

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