Base getting new storm shelters

Published Feb. 25, 2016
By John Parker
Staff Writer

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Construction crews are currently installing storm shelters at the Tinker Air Force Base dorm campus and the youth center, officials said recently.

The Tinker Facilities Board approved a more robust storm protection policy in December that prioritized shelter locations and spurred the new construction.
"Tinker has been addressing locations and actions for the safest places to go during a storm event for many years," said Robby Byard, community planner with the 72nd Air Base Wing Civil Engineer Directorate.

"Over the last few years, the 72nd ABW started seeing numerous organizations submitting requests for installation of storm shelters," Mr. Byard said. "As a result the ABW felt a team comprising representation across the base needed to be brought together to develop a policy for the base. The team developed clear construction guidelines and priority shelter locations to put limited funding towards those locations first."

Although construction ongoing, not all the shelters will necessarily be completed in time for the spring severe weather season, Tinker officials said. Construction officials at some of the current projects, however, told the Tinker Take Off over the next few weeks.

The storm shelters, which include aboveground and underground versions, meet ICC 500 construction standards for tornadoes.

More shelter construction is planned. The Facilities Board prioritized buildings to receive shelters, with the east and west Child Development Centers ranking No. 1 and 2 for the base. CDC South, the newest CDC, had shelters installed during its construction.

CDCs East and West, Bldgs. 3904 and 5510, respectively, are scheduled for aboveground shelters that will hold approximately 300 people each, said Carmie Ashley, 72nd ABW/CENP Portfolio Optimization Chief.

The Facilities Board priority list for shelters was heavily based on protecting children and youth, along with personnel who must stay on the base in storms. The list includes the dorms, the air traffic control tower, Security Forces locations, the command post and Fire and Emergency Services.

The base shelter policy now states that any base organization can fund its own shelters if desired, Mr. Ashley said. Civil Engineering has analyzed to determine the best possible location for shelters indoors or outdoors. The Defense Logistics Agency, using its own funds, has started new shelters at several of its locations, Mr. Ashley said. All new shelters must be sited and approved by the Base Facilities Board to ensure the proper analysis and location is appropriate, stated Mr. Ashley.

Storm/tornado shelters differ from tornado refuge areas that are designated inside Tinker facilities. Refuge areas aren't hardened but are determined by engineers to be the best places to avoid injury if a building is struck.