{"id":24284,"date":"2019-03-25T18:13:42","date_gmt":"2019-03-25T18:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/03\/25\/sec-wilson-air-force-will-rebuild-flooded-offutt-make-it-even-better-than-it-was\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:36:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:36:15","slug":"sec-wilson-air-force-will-rebuild-flooded-offutt-make-it-even-better-than-it-was","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/03\/25\/sec-wilson-air-force-will-rebuild-flooded-offutt-make-it-even-better-than-it-was\/","title":{"rendered":"Sec. Wilson: Air Force will rebuild flooded Offutt, make it \u2018even better than it was\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson pledged to help Offutt Air Force Base recover from the devastating flood<\/a> that swamped one-third of the Nebraska base during a visit there Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe United States Air Force will rebuild Offutt Air Force Base,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cWe will work with the Nebraska congressional delegation to secure supplemental funds to be able to recover from the damage<\/a> and make this base even better than it was.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a Saturday release, the Air Force said Wilson met with Offutt leaders and elected officials in the area \u2014 including Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., a retired Air Force brigadier general \u2014 during her visit to discuss rebuilding the base. Wilson said the Air Force is flying in resources to help the base assess its damage<\/a> and begin reconstruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She applauded the leaders at the base, the home of the 55th Wing, for their preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson talks to 55th Wing leadership as Rep. Don Bacon looks on during her visit to Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Friday. Offutt AFB is recovering from a historic flood that began to creep onto the installation March 15. (Charles Haymond\/Air Force)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And she met with and praised some of the base personnel who prepared for the flooding, including a National Guardsman who spent 10 hours filling sandbags and the wife of an airman who worked at the Bennie Davis Maintenance Facility, who moved items from people\u2019s offices to higher ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere were no injuries, no loss of life on this base,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cAll the aircraft were either flown out or moved to high ground. A lot of the ground equipment was saved because [base leadership] called in everybody in an all-hands effort.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t