SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. —
Scott Air Force Base faced significant flooding after a severe storm on July 16, 2024, leading to a large amount of water accumulation in various areas of the base. The excessive rainfall overwhelmed the existing drainage systems, causing disruptions to daily activities and presenting challenges for personnel and infrastructure.
The storm lasted about 12 hours and resulted in 5.043 inches of rainfall, submerging roads and facilities, hindering movement on the base.
Throughout the day, members of the 375th Civil Engineer Squadron worked to respond to the storm by placing sandbags around facility entrances, clearing debris from roads and storm drains, removing fallen trees, and assisting vehicles that were stranded due to the storm. Teams also addressed power and HVAC outages to ensure critical facilities remained operational despite the adverse weather conditions.
Tech. Sgt. Jeffery MacHott, the operations engineering superintendent of the 375th CES, mentioned that Team Scott’s Requirements & Optimization section is documenting all property damage caused by the storm to prioritize, plan, and carry out repairs.
The flooding highlighted the importance of continuously improving infrastructure to adapt to changing environmental challenges. While past measures have helped reduce many risks, the base acknowledges the need for further enhancements.
“To better anticipate flash flooding at Scott AFB, Team Scott has implemented various measures,” said Graham Hults, the environmental program manager of the 375th CES. “One of these efforts is the 375th Air Mobility Wing S.T.O.R.M. Program, which was established earlier this year and aims to forecast flash flooding up to 10 days in advance using sensors on the ground and models created by the 557th Weather Wing and NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Global Hydro Intelligence Program.
By investing in advanced technologies, collaborating with experts, and promoting sustainable practices, Team Scott is working to enhance their ability to prepare for and respond to flash flooding at Scott AFB. This will improve readiness and protection for the base and its community, setting an example for effective flood management strategies at military installations nationwide.