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High winds damage sub base in Georgia

A violent blast of high wind during a June 22 thunderstorm did more than $1 million worth of damage at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay, Ga., the East Coast homeport for ballistic missile submarines.

None of the nuclear weapon systems was affected during the early evening microburst, said Ed Buczek, base spokesman.

“There was no damage to the submarines and no injuries,” he said. “There was no danger to the weapon systems or the boats.”

The storm, however, did damage other facilities, including a pier where nuclear weapons are handled.

“The wind damaged our cranes, buildings, government and personal vehicles, light poles and multiple fences,” he said.

Also, a 60-foot section of roof was torn from a building at Explosives Handling Pier 2.

Buczek did not have a cost estimate of the damage but it was listed as a Class A mishap, which requires $1 million in damage or loss of life.

Microbursts are characterized by high wind downdrafts lasting a short duration during thunderstorms.