Minot AFB mitigates rising water levels

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  In an effort to control springtime flooding, 91st Missile Wing and 5th Bomb Wing Airmen are responding by preparing sandbags and digging ditches to protect people, government property and military readiness.

Although Minot AFB, like the rest of the state, faces rising waters, base leaders remain confident in the base's ability to maintain normal operations.

"Like our neighbors statewide, we've also experienced flooding," said Col. Douglas Cox, the 5th BW commander. "However, there has been no disruption to our ability to ensure combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and Global Strike operations."

Col. Fred Stoss, the 91st MW commander, says this Global Strike Command base is well-prepared to handle these situations.

"Minot Air Force Base has already taken action to respond to flooding on base and within the missile complex area," said Colonel Stoss. "Support of these operations has been above normal to ensure combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and Global Strike operations remain available to the President of the United States and combatant commanders."

As a precautionary measure, 29 launch facilities have been sandbagged thus far. About 20,000 sandbags have been used to safeguard against rising water levels.

The base is experiencing rising water levels due to an above-average amount of snowfall during winter and spring months.

According to the 5th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight, Minot has seen a little more than 60 inches of cumulative snow so far this winter.

Colonel Cox said the base is prepared to handle events such as this because of its thorough and extensive readiness plans. Base operations will continue to remain safe, secure and effective, he said.

"With regards to the missile field, the elevated water has created challenging road conditions which has caused us to look at using alternate routes, but there has been no disruption to our ability to ensure combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations," Colonel Stoss said.

With both wings working hard to manage rising water levels, the base continues normal operations and remains capable of delivering combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence, officials said.