What's the status Published Feb. 17, 2011 By Micah Garbarino Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Tinker is improving the way it delivers base operating status messages. During significant weather events or other emergencies, Tinker's status will be posted on Tinker's Twitter feed and Facebook page. "We realize that the communication systems we have in place need to be improved. By providing these notices on Facebook and Twitter, we hope to expand our capability to deliver timely and accurate operating status information to Team Tinker members. This enhancement should also take considerable strain off the Straight Talk Line, leaving it open for those members who do not have text and web capabilities," said Col. Bob LaBrutta, 72nd Air Base Wing commander. Links to Tinker's Facebook and Twitter pages can be found on the weather status page at www.tinker.af.mil. You can always view status information and other news simply by visiting our Twitter and Facebook sites, but if you wish to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, instructions are below: To subscribe to Tinker's Twitter feed you must have an active Twitter account. To subscribe, go to: http://twitter.com/Team_Tinker and click on the "sign up" button on the top left of the page. Once you have an account, choose to "follow" @Team_Tinker. To follow via SMS text messaging, send a "follow@Team_Tinker" text to Twitter from your phone. You will begin receiving short texts from Tinker on the operating status or anytime something is posted. Those who do not have an unlimited texting plan may want to turn off notifications until there is a threat of significant weather to avoid being charged for other non-status-related texts. For more information see the "Help" link on www.twitter.com. To follow Tinker on Facebook, you must also have an active Facebook account. The Facebook address is: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tinker-Air-Force-Base/411868180596 Click on the "sign up" button on the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Once you have created your account, click on the "like" button. This will make you a "fan" of Tinker AFB and you will begin receiving Tinker updates in your Facebook news feed. The 72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs office, will continue to notify local television and radio stations of our operating status. Information can be obtained by watching the informational "scroll" on television, or more quickly, by visiting the stations' websites, following the links to a complete list of area closures. These sites are: · www.okcfox.com · www.news9.com · www.koco.com · www.kfor.com The base will also maintain the Straight Talk line (734-1900) and is working to fix the issues that caused problems for callers attempting to hear the operating status during the last winter storm.