Fort Rucker Weathers the Storm Together

FORT RUCKER, Ala. — A mighty team of Fort Rucker Soldiers, civilians and contractors worked together to prepare for and recover from Hurricane Isaias,… FORT RUCKER, Ala. — A mighty team of Fort Rucker Soldiers, civilians and contractors worked together to prepare for and recover from Hurricane Isaias, which made landfall near Destin, Florida, Friday, Oct. 9, as a Category 2 hurricane with sustained winds of 105 mph. The storm continued north, bringing heavy rain and damaging wind gusts across southern Alabama and the Wiregrass region. To prepare for the potential storm, installation leaders and weather personnel held planning meetings and daily command update briefs to ensure the safety of those who live and work on Fort Rucker, as well as protect buildings, aircraft and equipment.

All key leaders remained engaged throughout the process, while the Directorate of Public Works had a contractor team on standby to respond during the storm and coordinated with Alabama Power to support power outages and recovery operations once conditions were safe. According to Matthew Patton, chief of the plans, operations, mobilization and security division, a trained battle captain staffed the Installation Operations Center before and during the height of the storm to support coordination and situational awareness. “Aircraft and equipment were secured,” Patton said, “and personnel were directed to depart at 1 p.m., based