Posted at 3:55 p.m., Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Assessment shows Wake Island's runways intact
Advertiser Staff
Typhoon Ioke left Wake Island's runway intact and operational, but runway lights are missing and 70 percent of the island's facilities and buildings are moderately to severely damaged, according to an Air Force assessment this week.The initial assessment by members of Andersen Air Force Base's 36th Contingency Response Group — the 36th Expeditionary Contingency Response Squadron — found that the power grid sustained extensive damage to switches and transformers.
Power lines to the majority of buildings and backup generators were damaged. Out of 31 transportation/fuels vehicles, three were non-operational and nine required minor maintenance.
The fuel-transfer system suffered minor damage. The island had no running water, but about 8,000 gallons of water that can be purified was discovered behind the island's water plant.
