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By Howard Altman / Tampa Bay Times / August 5, 2016
Officials at MacDill Air Force Base, which has more than seven miles of shoreline, say they are prepared to cope with storm surges and, in the near-term, rising sea levels.
A report issued last month by the Union of Concerned Scientists warns that rising sea levels will inundate many U.S. military installations. While the study did not include MacDill, the scientists’ group ran projections for the base at the request of the Tampa Bay Times.
The group found that by the year 2050, based on tidal studies of St. Petersburg, sea levels at MacDill are projected to rise 1.1 feet to 1.7 feet. By the year 2100, those levels are expected to rise 3.8 feet to 6.2 feet.
Sea level rises of three feet would affect mostly wetlands, according to the group. With an increase of another foot, developed areas begin to be inundated.
“With this very rough assessment, the base would lose wetlands, but little developed land by 2100 in the intermediate scenario, but could lose developed land by the second half of the century with the highest scenario,” according to the information developed for the Times.
Officials at MacDill say they have planned for these circumstances. The base is home to U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, Special Operations Command Central, the 6th Air Mobility Wing, the 927th Air Refueling Wing and dozens of other mission partners.
The sea level projection for 2050 “would have minimal impact to MacDill” and its headquarters and flight operations and buildings, according to Robert Moore, deputy director of the 6th Civil Engineering Squadron.
Since 1990, the base has required all new construction to start at a minimum of 11.5 feet above sea level. That includes the headquarters for CentCom, additions since 2007 to the SOCom headquarters, and many other buildings on base. The main SOCom headquarters building, still in use, was built in 1968.
The aircraft hangars were built long before the new sea level rules.
Aside from the height requirement, base officials say they have installed measures to eliminate erosion from storm surges of three feet or less.
However, while the construction height requirement mitigates the impact of the projected 2050 sea level increases, Moore says additional long-term planning is required for the projected 2070 and 2100 sea level rises.
In the short, officials have plans for hurricane season as it kicks into high gear this month.
“For imminent storms that look like they would hit the installation, above a Category One, the base would evacuate per state and county recommendations,” Moore said.
Today and Monday, look for the Purple Heart flag to fly over Tampa at the city halls of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City and the Hillsborough County government center.
That’s thanks to the lobbying work of two Vietnam War vets, Gerard Abbett, a multiple Purple Heart recipient, and David Braun.
Purple Heart Day is celebrated Aug. 7 to commemorate the day in 1782 when Gen. George Washington established the honor. At the time, it was a figure of a heart in purple cloth, or silk, edged with narrow lace or binding.
The original citation reads, “The General ever desirous to cherish virtuous ambition in his soldiers, as well as to foster and encourage every species of Military merit, directs that whenever any singularly meritorious action is performed, the author of it shall be permitted to wear on his facings over the left breast” that honor.
“Not only instances of unusual gallantry, but also of extraordinary fidelity and essential service in any way shall meet with a due reward.”
The medal as we know it now was created in 1932 and is “awarded to members of the armed forces of the U.S. who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy and posthumously to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action,” according to the Military Order of the Purple Heart organization.
The Pentagon announced no new troop deaths in ongoing operations.
There have been 2,347 U.S. troop deaths in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, 21 U.S. troop deaths and one civilian Department of Defense employee death in support of the follow-up, Operation Freedom’s Sentinel in Afghanistan, and 17 troop deaths and one civilian death in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the fight against the Islamic State.
Photo – missing: Base officials say they are prepared for the projected sea level rise. Since 1990, they have required all new buildings to be 11.5 feet above sea level, and they’ve installed anti-erosion measures. (Courtesy Tampa Bay Watch)
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