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HUREVAC exercise tests Team Shaw

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Cossaboom
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Team Shaw held a hurricane evacuation exercise here, June 9 - 12.

The purpose of the exercise was to test the readiness of Team Shaw in the event a hurricane made it inland and hit the base.

The exercise started with "Hurricane Miley" forming approximately 72 hours away off the eastern coast. Throughout the week the hurricane grew in strength as well as gained ground on the base causing Hurricane Condition Warnings to increase.

"The exercise took place over a full week time period as would a real storm," said James Allen, 20th Fighter Wing director of inspections. "The intent was to have all base entities actually go through and perform, or at least discuss, actions required by our local Shaw Plan 108 and portions of IEMP 10-2."

The Shaw Plan 108 details all actions Team Shaw personnel are to take in the event of a natural disaster.

The South Carolina Department of Transportation emergency evacuation route for Sumter S.C., is U.S. Route 378 West.

In the event a real hurricane was to hit Shaw communication is key, said Allen.

"The key is timely communication and action," said Allen. "Should a storm threaten, time will become a very precious commodity where units will wish they had more time to prepare or that a particular decision needed to be made much sooner.  Additionally, it was discovered numerous plans needed to be updated to reflect current information and better delineation of who is key essential and mission essential for base recovery."

Along with timely communication and action, having the proper basic survival gear is paramount to making it through a crisis.

According to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management flight Airmen should have the following items in an emergency supply kit:
·Jumper cables: including flares or a reflective triangle.
·Flashlights: with extra batteries.
·First Aid Kit: including any necessary medications, baby formula and diapers if you have a small child.
·Food: non-perishable food such as canned food, and protein rich foods like nuts and energy bars.
·Manual can opener.
·Water: at least one gallon of water per person a day for at least three days
·Basic toolkit: including pliers, a wrench, and a screwdriver.
·Pet supplies: including food and water.
·Radio: battery or hand cranked.
·Cat litter or sand: for better tire traction.
·Shovel
·Ice scraper
·Clothes: warm clothes, gloves, hat, sturdy boots, jacket and an extra change of clothes for the cold.
·Blankets or sleeping bags.
·Charged cell Phone: and car charger.
·Extra fuel cans with fuel for car.

"Overall I felt the exercise was a success," said Lt. Col. Ivan Normandia, 20th Fighter Wing director of operation. "We were able to validate that the plan is solid, but not without room for improvement, and now with the data points we gathered in the exercise we will be that much more prepared should
we have to execute a HUREVAC in a real world situation."

Though the chances of a hurricane making it as far inland as Shaw are slim, the possibility is still there, and members of Team Shaw should always make sure they are prepared.