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Tyndall to receive damage prevention project

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  When Hurricane Katrina hit the southeast coast of the United States in 2005, nothing stood in its way. The path of destruction ripped apart houses and trees, and took out electrical cables throughout the region.

To help facilitate Tyndall's recovery from a catastrophic storm event, Tyndall invested in a storm damage prevention project.

"We are going to convert over 19 miles of electrical overhead power lines and enhance Tyndall's electrical grid reliability and aesthetics," said Tarone Watley, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical engineer.

This base-wide project began in September 2006 and is scheduled for completion October 1, 2008.

"Construction cost will range near $24.5 million," said Watley.

"The project is referred to as the 'Pole Away' project," said Ann Garner, 325th CES flight chief. "Pole Away" means to do away with the wooden or metal poles that currently hold up lines.

Utilities that will be transitioned underground will be overhead power lines, CATV lines, and telephone and voice communication lines. Other equipment such as Giant Voice Speaker systems and security video cameras will be relocated to nearby buildings without impact to the mission, said Watley.

It has been documented throughout the United States that underground distribution is "better looking" from an architectural and landscaping standpoint according to community residents and visitors.

Tyndall currently uses a mostly radial feeder system, which basically means that the electrical feeders extend out from a single point to various residential, commercial and industrial loads.

"We are pushing to make Tyndall a loop feeder system, which means that we now add 'rings' tying our feeders together and the loads are then fed from the rings," said Watley. "This will inherently increase the overall electrical grid reliability at Tyndall."

Although Hurricane Katrina did not damage Tyndall, personnel from the 325th CES and other squadrons did deploy to the damaged areas in support of DoD operations.
The storm damage prevention project is the best solution against destruction caused by a natural disaster.

Because the winds and storm surge from Hurricane Katrina destroyed cable lines, entire cities went days without power. With the Tyndall's cables installed underground, power outage will be less of an issue during natural disasters.