Tornado hits Little Rock AFB

[TacAirCoug]

Glad everyone's OK. A couple Herks are going to need some TLC, however...

From AFA's Daily Report:

Tornado Tears Through Little Rock: A tornado struck Little Rock AFB, late Monday, injuring three people, battering three C-130s, and damaging more than 40 homes, base spokesman SrA. Jim Araos told the Daily Report. All three people suffered only minor injuries and have received medical treatment. Officials are still trying to determine the full extent of the damage to the C-130s, something they won't be able to determine until they take apart the aircraft and examine them, Araos said. The majority of the destruction happened in the base housing area. The tornado literally split some houses in half, tore the roof off of others, and tossed entire trees through rooms. Base officials have placed families whose homes were damaged in temporary lodging until they can find a new home, said Araos. The base exchange and the commissary also received "extensive damage" and remain closed, he said. Cars were flipped during the tornado and continue to litter the base. The National Weather Service is calling for more severe weather in Little Rock through Wednesday, including the possibility of another tornado.

FlightGlobal:

Three US Air Force Lockheed Martin C-130 transports were damaged when a tornado hit Little Rock AFB in Arkansas on 25 April. Assigned to the service's 19th Airlift Wing, two of the Hercules were harmed while parked on the flightline.

Another suffered when the hangar in which it was being stored lost part of its roof during the severe weather.....

Full article/post with pictures.

[osulax05]

Base housing took some pretty wicked damage with thankfully no major injuries. I live in housing near the Med Group and got very lucky we only had a broken window. Houses on my street have entire roofs missing, garage doors completely mangled and 2x4's impaled in siding. The response Tuesday morning was impressive, the airmen in the dorms practically marched over to housing and helped with the clean up and were out helping almost all day.

The one complaint I have of the whole ordeal (well the one worth mentioning) is that the dissemination of information and recall process were completely out to lunch. The .mil website for the base took about 12+ hrs to update and the reporting line never did. I guess the base facebook site is the new official method of spreading information.

Edited to add that at 0700 the morning after the tornado, a PT test was being administered at the track. Glad we have our priorities in the right place.

Edited April 28, 2011 by osulax05

[Guest Arborist]

Wish I'd been there to help clean up the fallen trees.

[Guest AK-CO]

I guess the base facebook site is the new official method of spreading information.

Seems like this is the only way to get info out without it having to go through HQ to get approved. Sounds crazy.