Ten years later Published April 30, 2009 By Brandice J. Armstrong Tinker Public Affairs TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- Ten years ago, one of the most devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma history struck Tinker. In mere minutes, the May 3, 1999, twister with its ghastly mile-wide funnel caused approximately $16 million in damage and ultimately claimed the lives of five Tinker personnel. The F5, the most severe Fujita Scale rating, tornado swept through central Oklahoma wreaking havoc on several Oklahoma City-metro cities. Despite mayhem caused by the twister, Tinker personnel reached out to the surrounding, troubled communities. And, 10 years later, Tinker officials reflect on the event. "The 10-year anniversary is important to people so they can remember the people that lost their lives that night," said George Veirs of the 72nd ABW Wartime/Contingency Plans Division, who worked at Tinker during the time of the storm. "It also serves to keep the possibility of it happening again fresh in their minds." May 3, 1999, began like most spring days, warm and sunny. Tinker personnel were supporting normal operations and the military efforts in Kosovo. Weather forecasters predicted only a slight chance of severe storms. But, by evening, the skies darkened and tornadoes formed across the state. By the end of the night, central Oklahomans were in shock. During the reign of a central Oklahoma twister that reached 318 mph, approximately 40 people were killed, 675 people were injured and damage estimates topped $1.2 billion. Tinker's own devastation included damaged dormitories, a missing section of the Tinker hospital roof, the outer-western security fence plucked from the ground, cars crashed into one another and horse stables yanked from the ground. Several horses were killed in the disaster. "I don't think we would do any better than we did in 1999 on facility damage," Mr. Veirs said. "There just isn't anything more that can be done for a F5-level tornado." Despite on-base devastation, Tinker personnel stepped into rescue mode and aided the ailing community. The 72nd Medical Group opened a triage center in a nearby warehouse and serviced roughly 200 Del City victims, whose homes were damaged by the storm. The 507th Air Refueling Wing Airmen moved a KC-135 Stratotanker out of a hangar and opened the facility as a shelter. And, the 3rd Combat Communications Group set up 300 cots for displaced victims. Additionally, military members and dependents volunteered food, drinks and necessities. "I have discovered that here in the heartland of America lies one of our nation's great treasures ... and I am especially proud to be counted among you," said then-Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Commander Maj. Gen. Michael E. Zettler, in the aftermath of the tornado. Personnel from other units such as the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, 72nd Mission Support Group and 72nd Civil Engineer Group arranged teams to look for survivors in damaged areas. Other organizations aided local authorities or helped base agencies. "The next morning we had to split our [Plans and Programs] operations to staff the ALC Battle Staff and start a full 72nd Air Base Wing Control Center operation to support the tornado recovery," Mr. Veirs said. In the days following the storm, 72nd SFS patrolled the outer boundaries, where the fence was ripped from the earth. During one patrol, five days after the storm, Staff Sgt. James Day patrolled the perimeters, when his all-terrain vehicle struck an obscured object and he was killed. The other Tinker personnel killed by the storm include Robert Siano, of the Materiel Systems Group Tinker Software Development Activity; Suzanne "Sue" Cox, of Depot Support in Bldg. 3705; Loretta Richard, a greeter at the Tinker Base Exchange; and Tech. Sgt. Glynda Stanfield, of the 507th ARW. While Tinker personnel couldn't have prevented the storm or its damage, forecasters can better detect tornadoes and as a result can give more warning. "The weather field as a whole has seen our false-alarm rate drop on tornado warnings. What that means for the average person is that when the tornado sirens go off, there is a higher likelihood that a tornado is forming or in progress than there was if the sirens were sounded 10 years ago," said Capt. Justin Erwin, 72nd Operations Support Squadron's Weather Flight commander. "Most of this is due to better training of forecasters, but also the use of storm-spotter networks." In addition to weather forecasters sharpening their skills, Captain Erwin said the federal government is making weather radar more efficient by updating them with two new technologies -- dual polarization and phased array. Captain Erwin said the technologies will allow forecasters to see a sampling of a storm within about 30 seconds, which is quicker by five to seven minutes than traditional radar. The technologies will also provide a three dimensional view of a storm.