The vicious storm that blew through Fort Belvoir and the entire region Friday night downed more than 700 trees on post, blew the roofs off buildings, and cut power to virtually everyone here who had no generator. Off post, millions of people lost power. Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia all declared states of emergency.

As if dealing with record-breaking heat last week wasn’t enough, we were visited by a storm that hit suddenly, and left incredible damage in its wake. We are still tallying up the storm’s cost, but, folks who have been here many years swear they have never experienced anything like it.

I want to thank our workforce, residents and partner organizations for their continued patience as we recover. Please know that my top priority is ensuring your safety, comfort and continued ability to live and work at Fort Belvoir.

I also want to thank all the people who are working hard to make recovery from this storm as short as possible. Within hours of the storm’s strike Friday night, crews from the Installation Support Services were out clearing roads of debris from fallen trees and blocking off downed power lines. Directorate of Emergency Services personnel ensured access-control points were manned and traffic lights received the required services.

Dominion Power contractors worked 16-hour shifts, to repair power poles and substations vital to safety of personnel, operations and residential areas. The Directorate of Logistics and Directorate of Public Works teams worked tirelessly to ensure emergency generators were working and had fuel. Generators not working were replaced with back-up generators.

What we experienced Friday night is a storm called a, “derecho,” a Spanish word that means ‘straight.’ It refers to a storm’s powerful straight-line winds. Derechos typically form along the top of a hot air mass and can move an average of 70 miles per hour. That wind speed is normally associated with a Category 1 hurricane.

The power company crews tell us they have only seen damage and historic levels of outages like this after hurricanes. The crumpled metal bleachers on Long Parade Field attest to that and trees more than a century old broken in two like toothpicks attest to that!

Still, we are thankful there was no loss of life or serious injury. I’m extremely proud and even more humbled by the patience, understanding and genuine compassion of our residents, partners and surrounding community in dealing with the storm and its aftermath. We appreciate the tireless efforts of our work force and our residents to watch out for each other, and help one another. I urge you all to continue leaning forward as we work toward full recovery.

It was telling of the Fort Belvoir community that, as power began to return on Sunday and Monday, people getting power opened their homes and hospitality to those still waiting. That speaks volumes about the military family. I urge you all to continue leaning forward as we work toward full recovery.

Army Strong!