Norfolk native here. I was born and raised in Ocean View and grew up living one block from the Naval Air Station. I always felt that it was just a part of life in Tidewater that you were in the flight path. All of the schools that I attended were in flight paths, and you just stopped talking when a plane went over. The area around all the bases, especially Oceana and Dam Neck, that used to be rural is now subdivisions, condos and apartments.
My niece still lives there and called me today to let me know about the crash. She said that the media was already making noise about shutting down the base. She works for one of the big defense contractors and is very pro-military, and she was just sick that this has happened.
We thank You, Lord, that more people weren’t hurt, and ask that You comfort the injured civilians and the pilots.
>>>We thank You, Lord, that more people weren’t hurt, and ask that You comfort the injured civilians and the pilots.<<<
AMEN!
4:15 p.m. EDT, April 6, 2012
Updates: Six patients including the two pilots have been admitted to the hospital. One has already been released. Among those admitted was a police officer. One person had smoke inhalation. Officials say one of the pilots is in good condition and the other is in fair condition. One or two people may be kept for observation. No one has been reported missing.
No fatalities have been reported.
Five buildings have been damaged according to Tim Riley of the Virginia Beach Fire Department. He also stated that three other buildings were structurally unsound and they could not enter for safety reasons. They were able to search two of the buildings.
There have been seven reported injuries. Three people refused treatment at the scene and four were transported with non-life threatening injuries.
http://www.wtkr.com/news/wtkr-breaking-jet-crashes-in-virginia-beach-20120406,0,7398746.story
In 2002 I think it was I made a trip back there while on a vacation to Busch Gardens. Ocean View as I knew it was gone. I told someone else it looked like someone started a dozer down at The Spit and leveled everything standing up too Little Creek. I found the apartment building and an old 7-11 that was it.
I was amazed at how much the entire area had grown since 1980. Only one place I went still looked the same and that was Highway 17 down in The Swamp. That drive was one of my favorite get out of Norfolk places to go when I couldn't get home on the weekends.
I don't think Oceana or any of the other bases should be closed. But I do think all services need too get all of their eggs out of one basket and relocate a few eggs to other venues like to Mayport, Charleston, etc. Too many assets are in one place is my real worry.
Lord forgive me but my first thought after about the crash was that Obama would use it as an excuse to close yet another base.
Lord look over those who are hurt, especially the pilots who will hold guilt from this accident for their entire lives.