Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.news From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Millions salvageable at air base Date: Tue, 27 Oct 92 13:27:07 EST Message-ID: \SE A;NATION \SS (WS) \HD Millions salvageable at air base \BY ASSOCIATED PRESS \DT HOMESTEAD AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. HOMESTEAD AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) - The Air Force has found so far an estimated $40 million worth of salvageable equipment under the rubble that Hurricane Andrew spread across this sprawling base. Cleanup crews have recovered everything from computers and aircraft testing equipment to rubber boots and gloves. But because the base's future remains uncertain, most of the gear is destined to be shipped to other bases. "We just want to get this stuff somewhere it can be used," said Col. Steve Plummer, the base commander. He was one of 18 Air Force personnel who huddled in Homestead's sturdiest aircraft hangar Aug. 24 to ride out the storm. When he emerged to survey the damage, the scene was bleak. Everywhere, the base's brown utility buildings had been turned into twisted scrap heaps of iron beams and corrugated sheet metal roofing. A green C-130 Hercules transport plane was buried under a hill of rubble, and two F-16 fighter jets had been sucked from their hangars. Many big items like planes and trucks had been ruined. But strong metal containers protected much of the base's spare parts, electronic gear and computer hardware from even a scratch. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM