Last Wednesday, Aug. 26, Barksdale Air Force Base accomplished something truly significant…a display of combat power against the backdrop of an imminent natural disaster. With Hurricane Laura bearing down on the base, our team launched 27 B-52H Stratofortress sorties, shored up the base’s facilities and successfully readied families and the local community for the storm. As the first rains poured down on a largely empty and windswept flight line, we were braced for the storm with only a handful of first responders keeping watch, while a majority of base personnel were home with family and friends. Within hours after the hurricane’s passage, base services were restored and operational. In 24 hours, the airfield was again open, our crews safely recovering their aircraft to Louisiana.