News

Decision to close installation made to keep employees safe

  • Published
  • By 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The ice storm which led to curtailed operations Sunday evening, Monday, and part of Tuesday was preceded by significant planning during the weekend by installation and wing leaders. During the planning phase, leaders assessed the potential impact of poor weather by focusing on safety and the impact to the collective Robins missions.

Members of the Weather Flight identified the potential of an ice storm on the Thursday before the storm hit, and worked around the clock monitoring the situation.

Next, the flight stood up its Severe Weather Action Team on Friday. On Sunday, in collaboration with the 26th Operational Weather Squadron at Barksdale Air Force Base, La., the flight issued severe weather watches and subsequent warnings for freezing rain and snow. This information was provided to senior leaders, who closely coordinated with Houston County and City of Warner Robins officials.

Additionally, Col. Carl Buhler, installation commander, convened members of the Crisis Action Team at noon on Sunday, where the Weather Flight briefed the situation and others provided other pertinent information. All of this eventually led to the decision to close operations with only mission-essential personnel reporting.

"Closing an operation with more than 20,000 employees is not something done lightly," said Buhler. "First and foremost, our focus was on the safety and welfare of Team Robins personnel."

"The weather team's forecast was dead on the money," said Troy Hubbard, deputy director of the 78th Air Base Wing Plans and Programs office, which manages base contingency plans.

He said the decision to close the base was a collaborative effort involving numerous installation agencies, including the 78th Mission Support Group, the 78th Civil Engineer Group and the Directorate of Personnel. Hubbard said a key component to the decision was the forecast for temperatures to remain at or below freezing through the day Monday, meaning the ice would not melt off.

With the threat of icy conditions expected to continue early Tuesday, officials then extended the base closure, and employees were to be contacted by their chain of command with specific reporting instructions.

For civilian employees authorized time off during the period of base closure, the time will be recorded as administrative leave and does not count against personal leave, said Max Wyche, acting director of Personnel.

Given that all employees do not work the same shift, there was a deliberate and reflective process which centered on safety, while also balancing capacity, production and mission-needs to determine the times and shifts that would re-start operations on Tuesday, Wyche said. Commanders and directors considered all of these issues in determining when to resume operations.

The decision also involved close consultation with key mission partners on base to ensure all necessary services would be operational for the re-opening. The 78th Mission Support Group ensured needed support services would be available when the base reopened. The Wynn Dining facility had remained opened during the closure, feeding more than 300 mission-essential personnel.

Although snowfall last year led to employees being sent home early on a Friday, Hubbard said it has been several years since the base was closed for an entire day or more.

Tony McVay, chief of the 78th Air Base Wing's Plans and Programs office, is now heading up a base-wide review of lessons learned. This review will enable the base to be better postured for future weather impacts.