Storm, 90 mph winds rip through Aviano

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Justin Weaver
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  What began as a bright and sunny day quickly turned into a ravaging thunderstorm with winds up to 90 mph Sept. 7 in the greater Aviano area. 

Airmen and their families scurried for shelter as the wind and hail tore through the base, toppling down more than 160 trees, small buildings and street signs. In less than 20 minutes, the storm caused more than half a million dollars in damage to the base. 

"I was in my dormitory when I saw the rain coming down really hard," said Airman 1st Class Doug Cox, an avionics technician from the 31st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. "I ran, grabbed my video camera and started filming the storm from inside our dorm. Tiles were ripped off the buildings, a porta-potty went flying down the street and trees were getting knocked down everywhere. I'd never seen anything like it before." 

Immediately after the storm, the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron and hundreds of Airmen and volunteers began assessing the damage and assisting with the clean-up.
The Alpine Golf Course, which averages close to 500 players a week, suffered the brunt of the storm's fury. 

"The roof of our cart barn was ripped off, poles and netting on our driving range were destroyed and more than 132 trees were knocked down," said Al Beck, Alpine Golf Course manager. "We would have been closed for the next month if we didn't have the help of so many volunteers on base." 

In just four days, the majority of the course was cleaned up and open back up to the public. 

"Words can't express my gratitude toward the volunteers and organizations that helped get this course up and running again," Mr. Beck said. 

The civil engineer squadron's customer service office received more than 200 trouble tickets for storm-related damage. The tickets were then fielded to work crews to began repairing and removing damage related to the storm. Volunteers were critical in assisting the CE squadron getting the base back in order. 

"We were very pleased to have the augmentees help us out," said Maj. Anthony Figiera, 31st CES operation flight commander. "They were extremely motivated and did a great job getting the base back together." 

Just over two years ago, a similar storm ripped through Aviano, causing more than $3 million in damages to the base.