Cannon volunteers lend helping hands in wake of disaster

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Thomas Trower
  • 27th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNEWS) --  With residents of Clovis, N.M., reeling from the destruction and devastation of a March 23 tornado, base members here stepped up to offer help to their host city in a time of need.

The tornado was one of 13 confirmed tornadoes to thunder across the eastern New Mexico plains that night, said James Kratzer, a meteorologist from the 27th Operations Support Squadron.

Preparations, including the issuance of severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings, for the stormy weather started the same afternoon, said Mr. Kratzer.

Though Cannon wasn't touched by the storms, it destroyed or damaged approximately 400 homes and businesses in nearby Clovis.

Volunteers from Cannon gathered the morning of March 25 to help with clean up efforts. Since then, the numbers jumped to more than 500 Airmen, family members and civil service employees devoted to assisting their neighbors clean up the town.

Several volunteers said they felt compelled to help residents of a town who have supported them and the base.

"After being stationed at Cannon for three years, Clovis is almost like a second home," said Senior Airman Donald Davis, of the 27th Logistics Readiness Squadron.

"This is a chance to repay the community for the support they have given Cannon over the years," he said.
 
The 27th LRS has been operating in overdrive since cleanup efforts began March 25, providing transportation to and from parts of the city most heavily affected by the storms.

The initial focus was to remove the debris left by the storm as quickly as possible. The mission was to "clean up, pick up debris and do whatever the homeowners needed in order to put their lives together," said Col. Robert West, 27th Maintenance Group commander.

Two buses running all day turned into six as the volunteer efforts increased.

Airmen provided more than just muscle and sweat, however. Personal vehicles loaded with chainsaws and weed eaters followed the convoy to the damaged sites. They were met by more Air Force heavy equipment, such as dump trucks and front-end loaders.

Clovis residents are thankful for the support.

"(March 26) about 20 people who said they were from Cannon stopped and asked my mother-in-law and father-in-law if they could use assistance cleaning up," said Brenda Brady, a Clovis resident.

"My husband, who has limited mobility, and his brother were trying their best to assist their elderly parents," she said. "Our entire family is so grateful for the help of these men and women."

The gratitude expressed by Clovis residents was clear; the help Cannon Airmen gave provided hope and faith that it is possible to rebuild and recover from such a devastating setback.

A parade of Cannon volunteers traveled door-to-door as they swept across the city. What might have taken a family a month to clean up, Cannon volunteers helped clear in mere hours.

Because of the long-term effort needed for the cleanup, Col. Scott West, the 27th Fighter Wing commander, implemented the "Airmen for an Afternoon" program. This program will provide homeowners a team of Cannon volunteers at their residence to provide extra assistance.

Tornado victims can call the base at (505) 784-4228 to get individual help from Airmen volunteers, Colonel West said. 

"Airmen for an Afternoon" is geared toward an individual property, home or business owner who needs four or so Airmen to help finish tornado-related work," the colonel said. 

"We are not a separate entity, we are part of the community and we want to give back to the community that has shown such staunch, unwavering support of this base and its Airmen," said Colonel West. "As long as our community needs a hand, we're here to offer it."

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