Families displaced by ice storm find home on Tinker

  • Published
  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) --  Three hours after being notified, Tinker Air Force Base leaders were providing emergency shelter for Air Force families left without heat and power, some with infants, following an ice storm Dec. 10 here. 

72nd Medical Group first sergeant  Master Sgt. Lisa Sears obtained 30 unused dormitory keys to distribute to suffering families. By the second day, she had about 100 more keys to give out. 

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. 

"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 Guard and Reserves.

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 CCG 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.

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