Hurricane Isabel: communications ensured by special MTMC team.

As Hurricane Isabel neared the Outer Banks of North Carolina with winds averaging 105 mph, a special MTMC Operations Center team sprang into action.

Forty-four staffers--who had left their homes in the Greater Newport News, Va., area--went to work in MTMC Headquarters Alexandria, Va., to ensure uninterrupted communications with military and commercial customers, higher and lower headquarters and industry vendors.

"We're here to replicate the Operations Center at Fort Eustis in case they lose connectivity and communications," said Col. Dennis Faver, director, Deployment Operations.

By midday Sept. 18, torrential rains and wind were hitting Fort Eustis, Va. MTMC communications challenges began as Hurricane Isabel moved through coastal North Carolina and hit the Greater Norfolk area. Electric power was lost at Fort Eustis and the Operations Center continued work with emergency generator power. The Operations Center experienced sporadic connectivity problems.

Wind gusts of 59 mph were recorded at the Norfolk Naval Station.

In short order, wind and spirals of rain began to hit the Greater Washington Area. Wind gusts of 45 mph were recorded at Ronald Reagan National Airport.

Working as a partner, the Operations Center team at MTMC Headquarters Alexandria ensured continuous and uninterrupted communications flow. Team members worked in 12-hour shifts. When a Fort Eustis operations function had communications problems, their role was taken over by counterparts in the team at the Alexandria headquarters.

The dual communications capacity was maintained until 8 a.m., Sept. 20.

"It all worked very well," said Faver, working in his last operational assignment with MTMC.

Favor began retirement transition two days later.

"The real key," said Faver, "was that MTMC remained linked to its higher and lower headquarters throughout the storm."

While Faver worked, trees were blown down on some vehicles and homes in the subdivision where his home was located.

The team members included many volunteers like Rick Shilby, a team leader in Requirements Branch.

"I have mixed feelings about it," said Shilby. "I am happy to be here. But, I am very concerned having left all my household goods in jeopardy.

"I volunteered just the same."

Shilby later learned his Williamsburg, Va., home was untouched by the storm.

A second volunteer was Lt. Cdr. Solomon Robinson, a U.S. Navy officer assigned as operations officer to MTMC's Northern Command Team.

Robinson praised the team's cohesion and morale.

"We all worked like we're team members of one branch," said Robinson, who brought his family with him to an Alexandria motel. "We had a high level of cooperation." Two team members, Claire Bandy and Bambi Beatty, assisted the team at U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, IL.

Other team members included Lt. Col. Terry Witt, a U.S. Air Force officer in her fourth day of assignment with MTMC.

"I am excited to have been given this opportunity," said Witt, chief, Liaison Branch, Terminal Operations. "It's a baptism by fire. Excellent headquarters training!"