Powerful wind storm impacts WPAFB Published Sept. 15, 2008 By Derek Kaufman 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- A powerful wind storm that ravaged Ohio's Miami Valley Sunday similarly brought down trees and interrupted electrical power across the base. Base Airmen and civilian employees were reporting for duty at normal times, although navigating streets in many neighboring communities near Wright-Patt was reported to be difficult due to downed trees, power lines and a large number of traffic signals without power. "All base missions are up and running and people are reporting for duty as normal," said Col. Bradley D. Spacy, 88th Air Base Wing commander. "Our civil engineers, security forces, and firefighters have been hard at work overnight to ensure uninterrupted mission capability across the installation." Base civil engineering officials said early Monday they are assessing storm damage to facilities across all areas of the installation. There were no injuries. A number of trees are down, including a tree over a power line in vicinity of a high-voltage power substation that feeds the base. A few sections of fence line were blown down or knocked down by falling trees. Electrical power went out on base about 2 p.m. Sunday and was restored at about 2:30 a.m. Monday said Dave Perkins, 88th Air Base Wing deputy civil engineer. A number of facilities switched to generator power without interruption, including Wright-Patterson Medical Center. Engineers are currently inspecting building roofing at a number of facilities for any damage which could invite water intrusion, Perkins said. Between 3 and 6 p.m. Sunday the remnants of Hurricane Ike caused the massive wind storm. Bill Hennix, a meteorologist with the base's 88th Operations Support Squadron, said winds on the airfield were averaging 40 knots during that time period with a maximum gust of 69 miles per hour.