Storms affect community, Robins pitches in to help Published May 16, 2008 By George Jozens 78 ABW/PA Robins Air Force Base, Ga. -- The Air Force not only helps destroy America's enemies, it also helps those people in need. Team Robins did just that this weekend. While the majority of the local population was awaken ed by strong thunderstorms May 11, several people in Macon were seeking shelter from tornadoes and disastrous winds. Although Robins didn't bear much hardship, it did use its Air Force resources to benefit Middle Georgia. The aid wasn't the usual Air Force's airlift of food for the hungry, but Robins did provide needed water and power for care facilities. Two different Macon organizations requested support. The Coliseum Northside Hospital's emergency management director requested water service support, and the Goodwill Nursing and Rehabilitation Facilities director requested generator support from Robins' leadership. "While many of us spent a quiet Sunday afternoon preparing for the upcoming week, Airmen from across this installation extended a helping hand to families in need," said Chief Master Sgt. Carol Dockery, 78th Air Base Wing's command chief master sergeant. "I applaud their efforts, not only to master the technical aspects of their crafts, but their servant leadership." Thirteen members of the 5th Combat Communications Group, an Air Combat Command tenant unit on Robins, used six government vehicles and moved six potable water tanks to the hospital May 11 to assist those in need. In addition, the 78th Civil Engineer Group dispatched two civil engineers and a vehicle driver from 78th Logistics Readiness Squad-ron and two generators to support the nursing home until power there was restored. "I don't know what we would have done without them (base generators)," said Joy Shepherd, director of Goodwill Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility in Macon. "It's amazing how one phone call can lead to several good people out there responding immediately." Those "good people" were nine 78th CEG personnel -- seven from power production, one from the interior electric shop and one from the exterior electric shop. The team was led by Jeremiah Thompson, power production supervisor. "We are the emergency power kind of guys," said Mr. Thompson. "We provide emergency power for any type of contingencies. On Sunday when we got the call, we came out and surveyed what needed to be done, then called in the guys and got the job done." The job was to restore power to a building that was built in three stages, all with their own power supply. To power the facility, it took technicians hooking up two of the base generators and one generator from Georgia Power to the facility, according to Mr. Thompson. The Coliseum Northside Hospital also received help from the base, in the form of potable water. "We sent six water buffaloes," said Capt. Nate Huston, 5th Combat Communications Support Squadron's plans and operations flight commander. "We filled up with our approved sources and the medical group on base tested and approved the water." The 13 Airmen who took the water to Macon were met by the fire department, which was also trying to restore water to the hospital. "The fire department showed up and got the water turned on just as we were about to dump our water in their system." The 5th CCG left three of the water buffaloes hooked into the system at the hospital in case they were in need later this week, according to Tech. Sgt. Shawn Helgerson, 51st Combat Communications Squadron. The electrical power from the base was used for three days until commercial power could be restored. The Goodwill facility has more than 170 beds and is currently occupied by 148 people, some of which require electricity for tube feeders, Ms. Shepherd said. The power production team got the call about 12:30 p.m. and finished up around 11:30 p.m. "Our residents were so thankful for their assistance," said Ms. Shepherd. "Without Team Robins I don't know what we would have done."