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Pensacola Naval Air Station on rapid road to recovery
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By Larry W. Kachelhofer
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Gosport, September 24th, 2004
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During the late night hours of Sept. 15, early morning hours of Sept. 16, Hurricane Ivan lashed out against the Panhandle with winds in excess of 130 mph. Waves measured by buoys as high as 42 feet. And the massive storm didn't spare NAS Pensacola.
The base is currently a virtual ghost town. Its personnel is evacuated to various locations including about 1,200 Marines who were sent to Albany, Ga. Thousands of Sailors were stashed at the Pensacola Civic Center, Corry Station and various schools in the Pensacola area.
Nearly every building aboard NASP sustained at least minor damage, and many buildings are completely destroyed-several of them historic landmarks. As of press time only essential personnel were being allowed onboard.
Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion One, Gulfport, Miss., hundreds of military personnel and students at NAS Pensacola were brought in to help cleanup the Cradle of Naval Aviation.
Lt. Jorge Contrera; Naval Construction Battalion Center, Gulfport, Miss.; is working in the command central set up aboard the air station. "It's an honor to serve and help. It's good to have a military that is versatile," Contrera said.
President George W. Bush arrived at Sherman Field aboard NAS Pensacola Sept. 19. This was his third visit to Florida to survey hurricane damage. President Bush walked through the Southwind neighborhood on Big Lagoon and portions of the remaining beachfront at Perdido Key. He then boarded a helicopter and toured Escambia County and Orange Beach, Ala.
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley and Congressman Jeff Miller met the president to discuss damage assessment. Miller toured NAS Pensacola along with Commander, Naval Education and Training Command Vice Adm. Alfred G. Harms; NASP Commanding Officer Capt. John M. Pruitt Jr. and Executive Officer Bo Stewart.
"I'm shocked," Miller said. "I actually expected damage, but nothing of the magnitude I witnessed here today. Everything needs to be established and an assessment made and a dollar figure put on repairs. They're working on these numbers, and Congress will go to work on securing the money we can."
"I think it's wonderful that our congressman and president have been here," Adm. Harms said. "It shows the leadership is behind us. It's tremendous damage, tremendous optimism and tremendous spirit to rebuild and get back to training the best Sailors and best Marines in the whole world."
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