Air Force now says it needs at least $420 million to clean up and rebuild Offutt after flooding

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Steve Liewer

The Air Force now says it needs at least $420 million to clean up Offutt Air Force Base and repair or replace structures damaged in the March floods, a senior Air Force official told The World-Herald Wednesday.

John Henderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, environment and energy, said about 60 structures were damaged beyond repair and must be torn down — including the longtime headquarters of the 55th Wing, the largest military unit on the base. They were damaged by floodwaters that reached as high as 9 feet in some buildings, and by a toxic sludge left behind when they receded.

"It wasn't just the water, it was what was in the water," Henderson said.

The latest cost is higher than the $350 million estimate issued last month by outgoing Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson.




Read more: https://www.omaha.com/news/military/air-force-now-says-it-needs-at-least-million-to/article_0d463004-8f51-53e6-bd48-35430a52cf6a.html

[Chin music]

1. 420 is just a COOLER number....ahem.

If you are picking up, what I'm laying down.

[msongs]

2. shut it down cuz they put it in a frigging flood zone. nt

[Ghost Dog]

8. Yeah. Cut losses and shut it down, fuckers.

And courts-martial yourselves while you're at it.

[rurallib]

3. considering the climate situation, maybe they ought to just move it

to someplace less likely to be affected by the climate

[BigmanPigman]

4. That takes logical thinking and involves the belief of Science

so that won't happen with this admin.

[moreland01]

5. A question, Steve,

Is there any gossip around town that the Air Force might decommission this base all together? Does it still have the strategic importance that it used to have?

[Omaha Steve]

7. The NEW HQ building was untouched on high ground

The levee was scheduled to be raised two feet BEFORE the flood. They are staying.

[keithbvadu2]

6. Offut AFB might be too expensive to repair?

Offut AFB might be too expensive to repair?

Link to tweet

?ref_src=

[patphil]

9. Less than half a mile from the Missouri River

Given climate change, it would probably be better to just relocate it.
It's going to flood more often now.

[onethatcares]

10. but, where oh where

will we get the money to do that?

[sinkingfeeling]

11. Take it from IQ45's DoD wall fund.

[SergeStorms]

12. They can find that much...

in the Pentagon's couch cushions. A $690 billion budget ought to have a few million laying around to fix the place up. Maybe rebuild it inland 20 miles or so? Just a thought, but that would be a tacit admission by the Trumpies that global warming might actually be true? We certainly couldn't have that!

[BillyBobBrilliant]

13. That is a lot of

Frigging paper towels... The high cost must be for printing MAGA on each sheet!

[maxsolomon]

14. Nope.

Cut the DoD by 30%, start here