Tyndall to receive damage prevention project

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Base officials are converting more than 19 miles of electrical overhead power lines and enhancing Tyndall Air Force Base 's electrical grid reliability and aesthetics to prevent damage from catastrophic storms, a base official said.

Tarone Watley, a 325th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical engineer, said the basewide project began in September 2006 and is scheduled for completion about Oct. 1, 2008.

Work on the construction project could prevent damage similar to what happened after Hurricane Katrina left a path of destruction that took out electrical cables throughout most of the southeast coast of the United States.

Although Hurricane Katrina did not damage Tyndall AFB, members from the 325th CES and other squadrons did deploy to the damaged areas in support of Defense Department operations. The storm damage prevention project is the best solution against destruction caused by a natural disaster.

"The project is referred to as the 'Pole Away' project," said Ann Garner, the 325th CES flight chief. "Pole Away" means to do away with the wooden or metal poles that currently hold up lines.

Utilities that will be transitioned underground will be overhead power lines, CATV lines, and telephone and voice communication lines. Other equipment such as Giant Voice Speaker systems and security video cameras will be relocated to nearby buildings without impact to the mission, Mr. Watley said.

Tyndall AFB currently uses a mostly radial feeder system, which means electrical feeders extend out from a single point to various residential, commercial and industrial loads.

"We are pushing to make Tyndall a loop feeder system, which means that we now add 'rings' tying our feeders together and the loads are then fed from the rings," Mr. Watley said. "This will inherently increase the overall electrical grid reliability at Tyndall. Construction cost will range near $24.5 million."

Because the winds and storm surge from Hurricane Katrina destroyed cable lines, entire cities went days without power. With Tyndall AFB's cables installed underground, power outages will be less of an issue during natural disasters. 

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