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Miss. (WLOX) — About 80 airmen at Keesler Air Force Base took part in a hurricane readiness exercise Friday, securing and relocating equipment to demonstrate they can pack and move operations in less than 72 hours
The drill was conducted by the 81st Training Wing, which trains specialists who calibrate the tools and systems that keep Air Force aircraft and operations running
The exercise comes with a historical backdrop. Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina shut down the Precision Measurement Equipment Lab (PMEL) at Keesler for eight months in 2005. Commander Victoria Bobo said losing that training time had lasting consequences
“They were being sent straight to operations with no training or experience,” Bobo said. “So, that places an extreme burden on the folks who are at that location trying to do operations in real time. They’re having to double that and train the airmen who are coming to them at the same time.”
Bobo said the wing has the capability to keep its training pipeline running even if severe weather forces a relocation
“We have the capability to adapt if severe weather is headed our way,” Bobo said. “We could pack out our equipment, move it off, and keep the training pipeline going.”
Master Sgt. Erick Dasher said Friday’s exercise represents a shift in how the unit approaches storm preparedness
“If another Katrina were to happen, you know, God forbid, we could get out of here and be able to continue training to be able to help the operational Air Force,” Dasher said
With the Gulf Coast in the middle of hurricane season, wing leaders said Friday’s drill is the first step toward a formalized readiness plan
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