Twister test set next week Published Feb. 19, 2010 By Brion Ockenfels Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Team Tinker will carry out a natural disaster response exercise on Thursday. "Oklahoma and Tinker Air Force Base are now in the typical tornado season," said Paul Logan, exercise controller with the 72nd Air Base Wing's Plans and Programs Office. "It's time for all units on base to review their severe weather plans and to brief their people once again on tornado shelters and procedures." The Installation Exercise Program Office will have 100 Exercise Evaluation Team members on hand at as many locations on base as possible. "The weather scenario we're building is very typical for central Oklahoma," said Mr. Logan. "This is a whole-base exercise. In the case of a real tornado, we have to be concerned with all lives on the base -- the gymnasium, base commissary and exchange, the hangars, Bldg. 3001 -- the whole base. Tinker is no stranger to tornadoes, having been struck by what Mr. Logan described as "glancing blows" on May 3, 1999, and again on May 8, 2003. "The objective of the exercise is to make sure that the sheltering process is successfully executed in a timely manner," said Mr. Logan.