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Tornado Preparation Guide

  • Published
  • By Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, OKLA. --  Tornado Watch

Monitor local radio/television stations for current information.
Implement unit tornado watch and tornado shelter preparations.

· Review your tornado shelter checklist.
· Check first aid and shelter kit and ensure supplies are available.
· Ensure shelter area is clear of debris.
· Put batteries in flashlights.
· Check communications.
· Monitor weather radios.
· Determine when to relocate to designated shelter or dismiss personnel.
· Consider cancelling or curtailing training events.
· Curtail or prohibit routine business movement outside of unit facilities.
· Use sign out boards to account for personnel and visitors away from duty sections.
· Implement unit procedures for assisting the handicapped as necessary. Consider sending the "Movement Impaired" to shelters early.

Notify all on duty unit personnel of weather conditions. Ensure notification of personnel working in high noise areas. Ensure personnel are briefed on tornado shelter locations. Secure or shelter outdoor equipment and materials if time permits. Take cover immediately and dial 911 upon spotting a tornado. Know your UCC phone number and ensure it is available in the shelter for notifications, personnel accountability and further instructions.

Tornado Warning
· Notify personnel to take immediate cover. Attempt to identify and shelter any visitors. Ensure all personnel remain in shelter until notified through your chain of command that the tornado warning is canceled.

· Personnel must not be permitted to leave shelter until the outside has been assessed for life-threatening hazards.

· Monitor local media and weather radios for current situation updates.  The tornado warning cancelation will NOT be sounded using the base siren system. 

· Additional sirens indicate a new tornado threat. Notification will be sent through the unit chain of command or provided by emergency responders when necessary.

· Account for all on duty personnel. Perform damage assessment. Report damage to the Unit Control Center and Emergency Operations Center. Remember to identify and account for any visitors in your shelter, by name and organization, and identify when they leave the shelter area. Assist the injured and call 911 for badly injured personnel.

Safety Tips
· AT HOME: In the basement under something sturdy, like a bench. If there is no basement, a small room in the middle of the house (a closet or bathroom) is best.  Always stay away from outside walls and windows.

· AT WORK OR SCHOOL: Designated shelter areas are best. Stay away from large open rooms like auditoriums and gymnasiums, and rooms with windows. Lie low with hands covering the back of your head to reduce the risk of neck injury.

· IN SHOPPING MALLS: Go to a designated shelter area or to the center of the building on a low level. Stay away from large, open rooms and windows. Never seek shelter in cars in the parking lot.

· IN MOBILE HOMES OR CARS: Leave the vehicle. Seek a safe structure or lie down in a low area with your hands covering the back of your head and neck. Keep alert for flash floods that often accompany severe storms.

· Have a family communication plan.

· Have a shelter plan and practice it.

· Have important contact information available such as: doctor, pharmacist, medical insurance, veterinarian, house/auto insurance.

· Have a three-day emergency survival kit.

· When a Tornado Watch is in effect, you can take certain precautions to lessen danger. If possible, move cars inside a garage or carport to avoid damage from hail which often accompanies severe storms. Keep your car keys and house keys with you. If time permits, move lawn furniture and yard equipment such as lawnmowers inside.  Otherwise they could become damaged, or act as dangerous projectiles causing serious injury or damage.

· Account for family members at home.  Have your emergency kit ready.

· Keep your radio or TV tuned to weather reports.

Disaster Supplies Kit Basics
The following items might be needed at home or work for an evacuation. Keeping them in an easy-to-carry backpack or duffel bag near your designated shelter area is advised. Store the kit in a convenient place known to everyone.

Tinker's Comprehensive Emergency Management plan has a list of required items for on base shelters. For home planning visit www.reddirtready.com. Some kit basics for home are:

· Three-day food supply

· Non-electric can opener

· Water

· Flashlight and extra batteries

· First Aid kit and First Aid manual

· Supply of prescription medications

· Credit card and cash

· Personal identification

· An extra set of car keys

· Matches in a waterproof container

· Map of area and important phone numbers

· A portable, battery-powered radio or television and extra batteries

· Special needs, for example, diapers or formula, copies of prescriptions, hearing aid batteries, spare eyeglasses or other physical needs.

On-base numbers

emergencies, non-emergencies

All emergency situations: CALL 911 -- Fire, life threatening injury/threat of loss of limb or life threatening risk such as a gas leak, downed power lines or being trapped.
Tinker non-emergency situations: Call your facility manager or Civil Engineering Customer Service at 734-3117 (24-hour line). 

Military family housing residents, call Balfour Beatty Communities at 732-3324 (24-hour line) for non-life threatening damage to houses.

Dorm residents call Civil Engineering Customer Service for non-life threatening damage to dorms, water leaks, damaged windows and doors, downed trees, debris, roof damage and leaks.

There's an app for that

In addition to a variety of smart phone weather applications available for download through service providers, local news stations also have text and mobile alert apps that can be used free of charge (data usage charges from providers may apply depending upon plans). The Air Force also has a Be Ready app available on iTunes and Google Play. Here are a few links to their pages:
 
http://newsok.com/mobile/alerts

http://kfor.com/weather/app-center/

http://www.news9.com/Global/category.asp?C=167390

http://www.koco.com/weather/alerts

http://www.beready.af.mil/