PORT HUENEME : 150 Seabees Sent to Devastated Base
About 150 Port Hueneme Seabees are being dispatched to help clean up and restore utilities to a Southern Florida naval base that was devastated by Hurricane Andrew, Navy officials said Monday.
The troops from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four were scheduled to fly from a deployment at Camp Moscrip in Puerto Rico to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida on Monday, said Linda Wadley, spokeswoman at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme.
Efforts will focus on cleaning up debris and restoring water and power service to the base, which was leveled by Andrew’s fierce winds and lashing rain Aug. 24. The storm destroyed the homes of thousands of service members and their families, Wadley said.
The unit is also transporting bulldozers, dump trucks, forklifts and other equipment to assist in the restoration, she said.
Port Hueneme officials have also been asked to make available spare tents, electrical supplies and vehicles in case they are needed.
Disaster recovery is one of the Seabees’ areas of expertise, she said.
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