Vol. 23, No. 18 2015-2016 Russell Egnor Navy Media Award winning newspaper Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas September 7, 2017 Harvey hits Texas Coast... Story and photos by Jason Kucera Hurricane Harvey came and went through South Texas with a fury few people in the region had seen in quite some time. While local officials and historians would compare the Category 4 hurricane to a devastating hurricane that last made land fall here, Hurricane Celia, Harvey would have none of it. On Aug. 21, the National Weather Service and Corpus Christi meteorologists began to really take notice of the tropical disturbance that was hovering in the Bay of Campeche, near the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, with alarm. The NASCC command triad and emergency management department, along with tenant commands and others, began meeting daily on the developments with the storm as it began to be projected with a certain chance of landfall within the Corpus Christi area and gaining strength. Following hurricane preparedness guidelines, the base began implementing conditions of readiness going from COR I to COR IV within a matter of days, prompting the evacuation of all personnel and base residents, and eventually locking the exterior gates. Being a Florida resident, I am not new to hurricanes, said Capt. Phil Brock, commanding officer, NASCC. They should be taken seriously and once we knew Harvey would head toward the Texas Coastal Bend, it was definitely a threat we had to respond to. The safety of our personnel and families was my greatest concern. It is easier to replace personal items, but impossible to replace people. By Thursday morning, Aug. 24, National Weather Service, local meteorologists and national media began sending out hurricane warnings as Harvey was expected to nearly be a direct hit to Corpus Christi, possibly as a Category 3 hurricane. With the Emergency Operations Center up and fully functioning, civilian leaders such as Ron Retzlaff, NASCC emergency manager, were put to the test. With Capt. Brock s concurrence, the EOC team made sure information was being provided regarding where the storm was located, where it was headed and how strong of a storm it was going to be, Retzlaff said. We ensured there was a constant flow of communication internally and externally to keep all personnel working or living on this installation continuously informed. One of my concerns with Harvey bearing down on us was if people had heeded the warnings and actually prepared an emergency go kit so they would have adequate supplies when the evacuation order was made. Communication with base personnel and residents was paramount to ensure that every one had adequate time to react to Harvey s pending landfall. Updates were made via AtHoc phone calls to all base personnel and residents along with e-mail, text message, and through social media. Overall, communication was extremely important to effectively evacuate and return of our personnel and residents, Brock said. NASCC took advantage of every means at our disposal to send a clear and concise message regarding evacuation timing, location and muster requirements. We are open to any suggestions that would See Harvey hits on pg. 4 Hurricane Harvey just off the Texas coast readying to make landfall. (Courtesy photo)...and we bounce back Sailors assigned to Public Works, NASCC, help prepare the installation for Hurricane Harvey to make landfall by filling hundreds of sand bags to place in flood prone areas, Aug. 24. Public Works department would be directly involved in the preparation and recovery from the Category 4 hurricane.
2 September 7, 2017 NAS Corpus Christi Wingspan Captain s Column Capt. Philip Brock Commanding Officer Wow! It s the first word that comes to mind when I think about all we have faced over the past couple of weeks. All of us. Just two weeks ago, we really had no idea what to expect when Harvey kept gaining strength from a depression, then a storm, and finally a hurricane! It did not indicate a distinct path until just a couple of days prior to making land fall, and then it was heading directly for us. There were many decisions to make, many people to think about, and significant preparations to complete for what was forecast as a CAT-4 Hurricane. A direct hit to NASCC could have been a catastrophic blow to naval air training in South Texas. While haplain s Word Ministry team here for you Lt. Kevin Jackson Command Chaplain I have a question for you. Was the month of August an eventful month to you? I would have to say yes. We experienced the constant threats of instability in the far east of the world. We mourned the death of brave sailors who died in a collision incident in Japan. All of us watched the unraveling of race relations as a result of the events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, ending with the tragic death of an innocent bystander. Not to mention, we in the Coastal Bend region experienced a fierce confrontation with Hurricane Harvey. The devastation, loss and at times hopelessness became almost overwhelming as images of Rockport, Ingleside, Beaumont, Houston and surrounding areas grappled some of the surrounding communities just to our northeast took the brunt of Harvey s impact, NASCC was spared most of the predicted damage. Evacuating a military installation is not an easy task to accomplish, despite how effortless it may seem. Many leaders came together, and many leaders rose up to meet unexpected challenges, in order to successfully evacuate NASCC along with all residents and every tenant command aboard the installation. CNATRA s Training Wing Four flew 76 of their aircraft to other air fields while 54 were able to be safeguarded inside their hangar bays. CCAD had to shelter multiple aircraft and secure multiple complex operations for the duration of the storm, potentially delaying their production and delivery to field units. Meanwhile, U.S. Coast Guard-Corpus Christi Sector personnel were out on search and rescue operations from Port Aransas and Rockport all the way to the Houston area throughout the hurricane s landfall and the subsequent flooding it caused. Again wow! with the storm. All of the above events created a new level of pressure, stress and challenge for many who were personally affected and those who were touched by the events near and far away. If you look at all of those events from a surface viewpoint, it may be very difficult to find captions of goodness and triumph during so much devastation. During the fatal events that took place in Charlottesville, Virginia, Ms. Hyer lost her life. Yet, her death unleashed a serious conversation about how each of us relate to each other within our own cultural context. Out of her sacrifice dialogue was established and in many instances people who normally would not speak to each other are actually communicating. Can you see the good that resulted? As I began to watch the coverage of flooding in the different areas of Houston and Beaumont, I was astounded by the miracle story of a mother who sought to bring her and her child to safety in the flooding waters. Sadly, the mother did not survive the flooding waters, but her three year old daughter survived by hanging on to her mother s body. This community has triumphed when hit with hurricane force winds before and it will triumph again. The personnel that make up the work force here are an amazing group of individuals and I could not be more proud of their efforts before, during and after Harvey. There are some buildings that took some solid damage to roofs, windows and/or walls, but there is nothing catastrophic and irrecoverable. Overall, the base was back on its feet and running, ready for operations exactly one week following the eye of the storm making land fall just 20 miles to our northeast. The local community is strong, our military force is strong, and nothing will keep us down as we continue to recover and help our neighbors rebuild. If you would like to volunteer your time, there are many resources available to help find a reputable and charitable group. If there are questions about a charity or recovery group you may have, contact the Better Business Bureau or NASCC Legal Department for advice. Listen, this is tragic. I cried and wondered, Where was the silver lining? Then it was reported by the little girl that her mother was praying all along for her to be safe. Then it hit me. I almost missed it. This story was so much more about the power of a mother s love. It was the mother s love that sought to get her daughter to safety. It was the power of a mother s love that even in her death, she preserved the life of her daughter. What a powerful story of triumph out of tragedy. Yes, August was a tough month but don t miss the messages of hope and expressions of victory that resulted out of many of those tragic situations. Allow September to be a month where you and I find inspiration to reach out to our brothers and sisters in need. Let September be a month where we extend mercy and grace to our brothers and sisters who we have differences with. Let September be a month when we pull our family members and children a little closer to our hearts than we have before. Ladies and gentlemen, August taught me to make every day count, serve others who need what I have, love my family in a more intentional way and extend grace and mercy to those who need it the most. Wingspan The Wingspan is published every other week by The Port Lavaca Wave, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Navy, under exclusive written contract with Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas. The Wingspan is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Navy, Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, or The Port Lavaca Wave, of the products and services advertised herein. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher may refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. All editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Public Affairs Office. Comments, letters, or suggestions should be sent via e-mail to: nascc-pao@navy.mil. To advertise in the Wingspan, contact The Port Lavaca Wave at afrench@plwave. com or call (361) 746-4341. Capt. Philip Brock Commanding Officer Fifi Kieschnick Public Affairs Officer Jason Kucera Editor WORSHIP SERVICES ABOARD NASCC: CATHOLIC WORSHIP SERVICE Base Catholic Chapel Daily Mass Mon, Wed - Fri: 11:30 a.m. Sunday Mass: 9 & 11 a.m. PROTESTANT WORSHIP SERVICE Base Protestant Chapel Sunday Service: 10 a.m. This paper is published for the people of the great state of Texas who have supported and helped in the Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.
NAS Corpus Christi Wingspan September 7, 2017 William a. Thau iii, P.C. Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve, Ret. Former U.S. Navy Lawyer Divorce & Separation Child Custody & Support Adoption/Guardianship Paternity Cases Wills & Probate Military Law Auto Accidents Personal Injury DWI Criminal Defense 3 9708 S.P.I.D., SUITE A-101 CORPUS CHRISTI (361) 980-3700 937-5513 Toll Toll Free Free 1-877-888-1369 5337 YORKTOWN BLVD., SUITE 4A2 CORPUS CHRISTI Licensed by the Supreme Court of Texas Former President of the Corpus Christi Family Law Association (1999-2000) Selected as a Texas Super Lawyer in November 2003, October 2004, and October 2005 issues of Texas Monthly Awarded the Client Distinction Award for 2015 by Martindale-Hubbell A GREAT MORTGAGE CAN MAKE DREAMS COME TRUE With interest rates still near historic lows, it s a great time to buy a home. > No-money-down (100% financing) purchase options 1 > No Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) on many loans > $1,000 Mortgage Rate Match guarantee 2 > Up to $5,050 cash back when you use RealtyPlus to buy or sell your home 3 Our trusted home-buying experts can help you get started today! navyfederal.org 1-888-842-6328 Federally insured by NCUA. 1 Product features subject to approval. 100% financing loans may include an additional funding fee, which may be financed up to the maximum loan amount. Available for purchase loans only. 2 Special offer available for purchase and refinance first mortgages. Certain product exclusions may apply. You must lock your rate with Navy Federal prior to submitting rate match request to qualify for this offer. Loan Estimate from competing lender must be dated and received within three calendar days of locking your interest rate at Navy Federal. Please note that other documentation used to show competitors terms will not qualify for offer. The terms of the competing loan must be identical to Navy Federal s loan; for example, a 30-year, fixed-rate product with mortgage insurance is not identical to a Navy Federal 30-year, fixed-rate product that does not have mortgage insurance. If the loan does not close within the commitment period, the rate match may be voided. Note: The initial Loan Estimate from a wholesale lender/broker is not an acceptable document for a rate match submission unless the Lender Information section on the Loan Estimate is completed. To receive $1,000, you must provide a signed, executed copy of the final Closing Disclosure and a copy of the mortgage note within 30 calendar days of your loan closing with the original competing lender. Offer not valid if original loan terms or conditions change prior to closing. Once approved, $1,000 will be automatically deposited into your Navy Federal account within 30 calendar days of receiving the necessary documentation. Recipient is solely responsible for any personal tax liability arising out of this incentive. 3 Cash back from $400 to $5,050 is available in most states. No cash back in AK, LA, MS, OK. The program is not available in Iowa or outside the U.S. You must be referred by RealtyPlus to a program real estate broker/agent and be represented by the assigned RealtyPlus real estate firm at closing to qualify. Standard listing fees apply. Contact RealtyPlus for terms and conditions. 2017 Navy Federal NFCU 13471 (8-17)
4 September 7, 2017 NAS Corpus Christi Wingspan Harvey hits from pg. 1 have made our communications better in the future. Navy personnel were sent to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Forth Worth on Thursday afternoon to be housed and ensure their safety, including family members. Working from JRB Fort Worth, my team s priority was on the accountability and safety of our evacuated personnel and families, said Cmdr. David Cisneros, executive officer, NASCC. We worked with those personnel to provide travel orders and emergency funding support through several volunteer organizations. Overall, the support from the JRB Fort Worth command and staff was outstanding, especially considering the quick reaction time. Mission-essential personnel, such as the commanding officer, emergency management officer, and others evacuated to NAS Kingsville to continue to monitor and manage emergency notifications. By the end of the weekend, key personnel were back aboard NASCC assessing damages and readying the base to become fully-mission capable once again. According to Cisneros, the recovery process is going very well. The base was opened to essential personnel within 48 hours from landfall of a Category 4 hurricane and to all personnel within three days, Cisneros said. I feel that is something we can be proud of because it took hard work, and timely work, from all personnel aboard NASCC including the tenant commands. Some office spaces had to be moved due to the damage from the storm. NASCC headquarters, which normally operates out of Building 2, was one such building. The interior of the building did receive enough damage that many staff members had to relocate to available spaces at the Naval Operations Support Center, near the South Gate. Despite the fact that personnel assigned to Information Technology department have worked tirelessly to get the new headquarters fully functional, Eddie Garza, an NMCI activity customer technical representative, volunteered many hours in the communities of South Texas struck hardest by Harvey, Training Wing Four headquarters received extensive damage to the roof of its building due to Harvey. Recovery efforts began as soon as the system departed the Corpus Christi area and will be on-going for many months. including Rockport, Aransas Pass, Port Aransas and Ingleside. There are so many people along the coast that are in dire need of help, Garza said. Some friends and I went out and just helped cut tree limbs and clear brush from properties in these different towns that are devastated. Many personnel aboard NASCC share Garza s sentiment and that has helped NASCC bounce back so quickly. There is still a lot of work to do, said Master Chief Petty Officer Gregory Williams, command master chief, NASCC. Installation services are up and running, all personnel and their families are safe. I am really impressed with all of the hard work I have seen from the Sailors and civilian personnel. Everyone has pulled together, got this Navy base operating again and even find time to volunteer to help in our local communities. There is a lot to be said for that. If you are interested in volunteering to help those in need in South Texas, visit the American Red Cross website at http:// www.redcross.org/local/texas/gulf-coast/ local-chapters/corpus-christi or various government websites attributed to the region. Strong winds crash sea water against a closed pier that jaunts out into Corpus Christi Bay. Hurricane Harvey pounded the Texas Coastal Bend for nearly three days. A sign from Bldg. 51 that houses the Fleet Readiness Center, left, lays on the ground after being blown over by strong winds of Hurricane Harvey. NASCC had hundreds of trees with broken limbs, many with their roots pulled from the ground, and several buildings with damage. Aircraft from Training Wing Four, CNATRA, safely returned following base evacuation on Aug. 31. More than 75 aircraft were flown away from NASCC and 54 were placed in hangars to prevent being damaged by Hurricane Harvey. (File photo)
NAS Corpus Christi Wingspan September 7, 2017 CNATRA pilots help recovery efforts, Aransas County 5 Personnel assigned to Training Wing Four, NAS Corpus Christi, cross the tarmac at Aransas County Airport as they help clean up 300 acres of land at the airfield. The airport was heavily damaged due to Hurricane Harvey s landfall in the area leaving more than 100,000 South Texans in peril. Jackie Crouch, property manager, South Texas Military Housing, conducts an assessment of an on-base housing unit after Hurricane Harvey came through. She and other staff physically walked through every housing unit aboard the base to ensure living quarters were safe and secure so evacuated residents could return home. Ensign Ricardo Atiles, an Athens, Georgia, native assigned to VT 28, Training Wing Four, carries debris across a field at the Aransas County Airport in Fulton, Texas. A lot of debris was left behind and scattered across the 300 acres of land the airport encompasses, which took a direct hit from Hurricane Harvey nearly destroying many South Texas communities.
6 September 7, 2017 NAS Corpus Christi Wingspan
September 7, 2017 7 We Proudly Support Our Military! Humpal Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers www.humpalphysicaltherapy.com 5026 Deepwood Cir. Corpus Christi, Tx 854-2278 2150 W. Wheeler Aransas Pass, Tx 758-5199 114 Lang Rd. Portland, Tx 643-8243 1811 Broadway (aka Fulton Beach Rd.) Rockport, Tx 729-8777 (also located in Calallen & Alice) Classifieds To have your ad included in This section, email afrench@plwave.com. The deadline To submit classified ads is 5 p.m. The Thursday before publication. QuesTions regarding classified ads should be directed To ashley at 361-746-4341. 3 bed/ 2 bath, Approx. 1600 sq. ft. All brick home. Two family areas (den and separate living) Bathrooms remodeled- tile floors and walls, new tub, commodes and shower Granite countertops in kitchen and baths Lennox high-efficiency A/C and heating unit with preventative maintenance included. New stainless steel Whirlpool Range, microwave, disposal and dishwasher. Rent: $1650/month Home For Rent in Corpus Christi For more information, contact: Metro Properties Deb Walter, Realtor (361) 813-8398 Debwalter1@hotmail.com Upcoming Community Events Al Amin Shrine Events All events to be held at Al Amin Shrine 2001 Suntide Road Corpus Christi, Texas Bingo- 2nd Wednesday of each month 6:00 pm Kitchen Opens. South Texas Opry- 3rd Thursday of each month 6:00 pm Kitchen Opens, 7:00 Country Western Music Starts Calallen Market Days - Last Saturday of each month - 11:00-3:00 pm Live Music & Outdoor Shopping from local vendors. Free to the public. NAMI General Meeting 6th and Yoakum, Kingsville, Texas. Live music. Over 40 vendors. Locally grown fruits and vegetables. Locally produced grass-fed beef, organic chickens, jams and jellies. Locally made soaps, lotions, and balms. Home-made arts and crafts of all kinds. So much more! Every 4th Saturday of the month year round, 9 a.m. to noon. Dates may change around the Holidays. Call 361-455-1846 for information. To have your event included in This section, email afrench@plwave.com. The deadline To submit events is 10 a.m. The friday before publication. upcoming events are published as space permits There are no guarantees as To how many Times an event will run. QuesTions regarding events should be directed To ashley at 361-746-4341. Located on Padre Island under the JFK Bridge 13309 S. Padre Island Dr. (361) 949-6744 docsseafoodandsteaks.com Major Credit Cards Accepted
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