Offutt

The 170th Group and 55th Operations Group at Offutt Air Force base sustained significant damage after major flooding from the Missouri River affected the base in Bellevue, Nebraska. Active Duty and National Guard personnel worked side-by-side in sandbagging, elevating of equipment and paperwork in preparation of its coming.

 “It was a total team effort between our active duty, all of our mission partners and of course our Air National Guard partners (who) rallied with us since the beginning,” said Offutt Air Force Base Commander Col. Michael Manion.

Floodwaters affected more than 100 buildings and 3,000 members of team Offutt lost their places of work and duty.

“From the very beginning our Nebraska National Guard partners have been with us side-by-side and step for step,” he said.

The 170th Group and 55th Operations Group at Offutt Air Force base sustained significant damage after major flooding occurred, March 15-25, 2019 near Bellevue, Nebraska. Active Duty and National Guard personnel worked side-by-side in sandbagging, elevating equipment and paperwork in preparation for raising flood waters, though the extent of the historic flood still caused millions of dollars in damage. (National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt R. Denise Mommens)

Members of the 170th Group were activated to help with sandbagging immediately, and when the decision was made to relocate aircraft, Offutt leveraged their relationship with the Nebraska National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing, which received the first three evacuated aircraft. The Nebraska Army National Guard rotary team also supported Offutt’s request for aerial damage assessments.

Master Sgt. Eric Streeter, Nebraska Air National Guard 170th Operations Group, said once he learned about the flooding on base, he immediately reached out to his colleagues volunteering to help. 

“I just saw what was happening via the news and knew what was going on locally with flooding and just decided to take action, just to show up and do what I could,” Streeter said. “I knew a lot of my fellow flyers were also filling sandbags and I wanted to come and try to help out.”

In appreciation of his volunteer sandbagging efforts, Streeter received a coin from Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson, March 22, when she visited Offutt Air Force Base to survey flood damage.

“This is the true example I think of a Total Force Integration,” Manion added. “There is no stronger relationship than what the 55th Wing has…with their state National Guard partnerships. And I am so proud to serve side-by-side with our National Guard partners.”