Army News, opinions, editorials, news from Iraq, photos, reports - Army Times

Storm damage to Ind. Guard base reaches $49M

EDINBURGH, Ind. — The Indiana National Guard now believes that repairs to Camp Atterbury from a spring tornado and flooding will cost at least $49 million.

The estimate covers damage to buildings, roads, bridges, a rail spur and other structures at the training base, said Maj. Kenneth Potchen, Atterbury’s deputy director of public works. The damage estimate soon after the early June storms was about $19 million.

Potchen said it’s been difficult to calculate the true cost of the damage at the camp about 25 miles south of Indianapolis.

“It’s pretty daunting. There’s a lot on the installation to account for,” Potchen told The Republic of Columbus.

The current damage estimates do not include the cost to replace items such as vehicles, computers, tools and furniture, Potchen said.

Camp Atterbury received $13 million from two National Guard organizations for repairs, but it must wait for additional money to begin other projects. A funding request through Congress is pending.

Repairs to about 100 damaged facilities are expected to be completed by October or November, he said. The base had 19 buildings sustain at least 50 percent damage, Potchen said.

The camp was damaged by a tornado on June 3 and flooding four days later. Officials said two soldiers suffered minor injuries as they sought shelter from the tornado, which had wind speeds reaching an estimated 130 mph.

Officials estimate that the tornado was responsible for $45 million in damage, while the flooding damage was $4 million.

“The tornado didn’t impact training at all, but the flood had a significant impact,” said Lt. Col. Ronald Morris, Atterbury’s deputy commander.

Three feet of water covered parts of the camp, prompting the evacuation of 600 soldiers from one training site.

Several damaged buildings, including a barracks, already have been demolished. Only the concrete slab foundations remain.