The Air Force has raised the cost estimate to repair and rebuild Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., from severe Missouri River flooding damage in March to $420 million, Air Force Times reported Thursday.
The flooding damaged more than 130 base buildings, including nearly 60 damaged beyond repair, according to John Henderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for installations, energy and environment.
“It wasn’t just the water, it was what was in the water,” he told the Omaha World-Herald.
The flooding ran up to 9 feet deep in some places, leaving behind a toxic sludge.
The new cost estimate is $70 million higher than the first estimate the Air Force presented last month in a $4.9 billion request for federal disaster relief. Last month’s request also included funding for Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., which was severely damaged last year by Hurricane Michael.
Offutt and Tyndall face installation repair stoppages due to lack of disaster recovery funding, as ADC has reported.
Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Rachelle Blake
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