Key US military facility in Pacific devastated by rogue waves

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

A SOCIAL MEDIA POST CAPTURED THE DRAMATIC MOMENT AS ROGUE WAVES CRASHED INTO A BAR IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS SATURDAY. THE FIRST WAVE FORCEFULLY BURSTS THROUGH DOORS, HURLING THEM OFF THEIR HINGES AND SWEEPING TWO INDIVIDUALS STANDING OUTSIDE INTO THE RAPIDLY FLOODING INTERIOR.

LUCKILY THERE WERE ONLY A FEW MINOR INJURIES. THE WAVES DAMAGED HOUSING, SUBMERGED AN AUTOMOTIVE COMPLEX, DINING FACILITY, AND THEATER.

THE ISLAND IS CALLED ROI-NAMUR AND IT’S BEEN A KEY U-S MILITARY FACILITY IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN SINCE MARINES TOOK THE ISLAND FROM JAPAN IN WORLD WAR TWO. 

NOW IT’S HOME TO THE RONALD REAGAN BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE TEST SITE, whichFOCUSES ON TESTING AND EVALUATING BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEMS AND SPACE SURVEILLANCE OPERATIONS — AND ACCORDING TO THE ARMY RECOVERY COULD LAST YEARS.

COL. ANDREW MORGAN | GARRISON COMMANDER, KWAJALEIN ATOLL

This is going to go down in history books as one of its most challenging times ever in its 80 year history. We will get through this, and we are settling in for a marathon of recovery ahead. It may last months or even years, but remember, we’re important to our nation’s security. And this is our home. We love our home. I’m proud of you, team. We’re showing the world that we are truly one team. 

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

ROI-NAMUR IS THE SECOND LARGEST ISLAND ON THE KWAJALEIN ATOLL AND THESE AERIAL PHOTOS SHOW JUST HOW EXTENSIVE THE DAMAGE IS. PARTS OF THE ISLAND ARE STILL SUBMERGED.

THE KWAJALEIN ATOLL HOUSES SPECIALIZED INSTRUMENTS – HIGH-FIDELITY RADARS AND OPTICAL SENSORS – AND WHEN IT COMES TO  LONG-RANGE MISSILE TESTING AND DEFENSE THEY ARE THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.

IT’S ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES THE U-S MILITARY CAN TEST INTERCONTINENTAL BALLISTIC MISSILES –  BECAUSE OF ITS REMOTE LOCATION IN THE PACIFIC. 

EVERY YEAR NUMEROUS DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE TESTS EXAMINE THE FLIGHT CHARACTERISTICS, CAPABILITIES, AND RELIABILITY OF MISSILES, INTERCEPTORS, AND SATELLITES.

COLONEL MORGAN EMPHASIZED CLEARING AND ASSESSING THE SAFETY OF THE RUNWAY. 

Once the runway is open, we can move people and equipment back and forth to start the recovery process.

RESTORING THE ISLAND’S INFRASTRUCTURE IS DUBBED “OPERATION ROI RECOVERY.” ABOUT 60 PERSONNEL REMAINED ON THE ISLAND TO BEGIN RESTORING UTILITIES.