THE
SIGNATURE SIGONELLA, SICILY
MARCH 16, 2012
VOL. 29 NO. 9
cnic.navy.mil/sigonella
Wet weather safety
Severe storm hits NASSIG
BY APRIL SLATER NAS Sigonella Safety Sigonella has experienced extremely harsh rain lately. With such inclement weather, it’s important to ensure safety precautions are taken for your vehicle and home. As you may have noticed here in Sicily, when it rains there is damage to the roadways. Extended rain causes shoulders of the road to collapse, making lanes narrower than usual. It can also cause holes to open up in the middle of the road. If rain follows an eruption of ash from Etna, then you’re looking at very slick conditions. Know driving conditions before taking to the roads. Check your tires and windshield wipers to prepare for wet weather driving. Wipers should be replaced annually and tires should be replaced when traction starts to diminish. According to Italian law you must drive with your headlights on at all times, not just at night or when it is raining. Most collisions occur at the rear of the vehicle and having your taillights on greatly reduces this risk. Water can accumulate quickly on the highway and you can avoid hydroplaning by slowing down. If hydroplaning occurs, avoid turning the wheel or braking. Increase your following distance during rainy periods and try to follow the tracks of the car in front of you. If you 're behind a truck, increase the following distance further as they tend to kick up more spray onto your windshield. When trucks are moving slower, only pass when it is safe to do so.
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Tips for home safety: First and foremost, be sure that you and your family's contact information is updated in the Navy's Family Accountability and Assessment System (NFAAS). Keep cell phones and other communication devices charged and readily available as electrical outages occur quite regularly. In the event that flood levels rise in your community, and evacuation is necessary, be sure that your Non Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) Kit is readily available. Flashlights, fresh batteries, candles, water, and non-perishables are recommended.
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The food court located at the Naval Air Station Sigonella (NASSIG) Commissary suffered extensive damage from a hail storm that started late Wednesday evening. A team of more than 100 people from public works, the Navy Exchange (NEX) and Commissary turned the food/retail facilities around in a 24 hour period. (Photo provided by Loss Prevention and Safety Manager Clarence Tucker/Released)
BY MC2 MATTHEW C. HAWS NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
N
aval Air Station Sigonella (NASSIG) took another recent weather hit when a cyclone circulated through the coast of Catania with marble sized hail. The storm left structural damage to several of the facilities on NAS 1 including the Navy Exchange (NEX), Commissary and food court area after water and ice accumulated on the roof tops making them too weak to hold the weight. Parts of the roof collapsed and damaged a large amount of ceiling tiles. "Part of our two platoons of Seabees and members of SPMAGTF12 came over to help with the initial cleanup," said Deputy Public Works Officer John Rovero. "They took down all of the ceiling tiles and secured the electrical circuits to make sure there were no safety hazards. The hail did significant damage to the roof and now we are in the process of putting in an emergency work order. Hopefully soon we can get a permanent fix on the temporary seal we have on the roof."
The collapsed roof at the NEX also caused damage to merchandise. "We are self-insured and there is actually a disaster store that we transfer our damaged merchandise to," said NEX Hard Line Manager A.J. Fecera. We have about 8 million dollars worth of inventory in the NEX and there is a claim process that we go through once we figure out how many items are damaged." In spite of the damage, the community efforts of more than onehundred service members and staff made the NEX and commissary doors ready to open to customers in a twenty-four hour turn around. "I am especially grateful to our first responders for ensuring the safety of our people and the material condition of our installations and housing," said Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Butler. "The men and women of our Security Forces, Fire& Emergency Services, Public Works Department and Medical personnel have been absolutely spectacular in their coordinated responses to these events."
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QUOTE
OF THE WEEK
“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” - Albert Einstein
Kindergarteners make fraction learning fun
Go behind the scenes
Chaplain’s Corner
Students turn pizza making into a math exercise.
Learn how a popular Sicilian treat is made.
Learn about Sicily’s connection to the Bible.
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