TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- As winter weather makes way for spring, it’s a good idea for members of the Tinker community to make sure they’re prepared for severe weather and disasters, should they strike.
Tornadoes, thunderstorms, high wind, even unscheduled power outages, can turn someone’s life upside down but taking preparatory steps now can make all the difference.
Being prepared for these hazards can be broken down into three categories:
Have a Kit - Assemble a collection of first aid supplies, food, water, medicines, and important papers that can sustain you and your family until the emergency passes. Here is a suggested list of essential items. Additional items on the site may be added based on individual needs.
▪ Water (one gallon/person/day)
▪ Canned or non-perishable food (remember a can opener if using cans)
▪ Weather radio
▪ Flashlight with extra batteries
▪ First aid kit
▪ Prescription medications (If needed)
▪ Whistle (for signaling)
▪ Dust mask (to help filter contaminated air)
▪ Plastic sheeting/tarps and rope
▪ Wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
▪ Duct tape
▪ Moist wipes
▪ Garbage bags
▪ Cell phone chargers/Battery packs
▪ Change of clothes
▪ Pet food (If needed)
▪ Infant/Toddler items (If needed)
Make a Plan - You and your family members may not be together when an emergency strikes. Planning ahead will improve your chances of keeping in touch, staying safe, and quickly reuniting.
Be Prepared - Anticipate emergencies most likely to affect you and your family. This will help you think through the basics of preparing yourself and your family for all hazards. Below are some of the hazards common to Oklahoma in spring and summer.
▪ Lightning / Thunderstorms
Lightning can pose a danger even if a thunderstorm is not overhead. The safest thing to do when you hear thunder is immediately pause outdoor activities and move inside. If an open building is not available, waiting out the storm in a vehicle with the doors closed can offer some protection. If stuck outdoors with no other option, avoid open fields or the top of hills and ridgelines. Move away from isolated trees or tall objects, and keep away from water or metal, which conduct electricity and can injure you if struck. Always wait 30 minutes after the last observed lightning strike or rumble of thunder to resume outdoor activities.
▪ Flash Floods
During and after storms, heavy rainfall can cause flash flooding. Stay out of flood waters, even in a car. It takes only about a foot of water to float a car, and much less to knock you off your feet. Assessing the depth and speed of flood waters is very difficult, and trying to cross a flooded roadway is not worth the potential risk. As the National Weather Service says: Turn Around, Don’t Drown.
▪ Hail
Hail, while rarer than the others, can be just as dangerous in the right circumstances. While smaller hail may cause some property damage, larger hail can smash windows and cause serious injury. Avoid driving through heavy thunderstorms whenever possible. If hail is falling, shelter inside away from windows and skylights.
▪ Tornado
Before severe weather season, it is important to review your emergency plans. Where will you shelter if a tornado occurs while either at work or home?
The safest place in the home is a storm shelter or the interior part of a basement. If you don’t have a basement, go to an inside room, without windows, on the lowest floor. This could be a center hallway, bathroom, or closet. Avoid taking shelter where there are heavy objects on the floor directly above you. Heavy objects, such as refrigerators or pianos, could fall though the floor if the tornado strikes your house. For added protection, get under something sturdy such as a heavy table or workbench. If possible, cover your body with a blanket, sleeping bag, or mattress, and protect your head with anything available, even your hands.
While at work, follow your tornado procedures and head to your tornado shelter location quickly and calmly. If you find yourself in an unfamiliar location and can’t find a designated shelter, follow the advice above and move to an interior room on the lowest floor of the building. Tinker AFB’s tornado siren is accompanied by words via the giant voice system. If you hear words and a siren, a tornado is expected to impact the base and/or the surrounding five-mile radius. The sirens activated by surrounding municipalities do not have a voice with them.
It’s important to know the difference between a tornado watch and tornado warning. A tornado watch is issued with conditions that are favorable for the formation of tornadoes. When a tornado warning is issued, a tornado has been indicated on doppler radar or observed by trained weather spotters. The same guidelines apply for Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Severe Thunderstorm Warnings.
On days when severe weather is expected, have multiple ways of receiving alerts. You may not be able to hear tornado sirens indoors, so monitor official notification channels or local media if severe weather is expected.
As tornadoes can happen at night when you might be asleep, consider purchasing a weather radio that features weather alerts. Look for one that features Specific Area Message Encoding, known as S.A.M.E. technology, so it will only trigger on messages for your specific area.
▪ Power Outages
Momentary power outages can be harmless or slightly irritating as electronics and internet connections take a moment to restart, but extended outages could render refrigerated/frozen food inedible or spoil essential medications.
Keep refrigerators and freezers shut to conserve temperature as long as possible. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours. A full freezer will keep the temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary. Monitor temperatures with a thermometer. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
If you use a generator, only use it outside and keep it at least 20 feet away from windows or doors.
Do not use gas stoves/ovens to heat the home as carbon monoxide poisoning can occur.
Consider checking with local officials for heating/cooling centers open to the public.
Keep a portable battery pack charged and ready to ensure that phones and other essential mobile devices are available when needed.
Power may return sporadically with surges or spikes, consider unplugging sensitive electronics such as computers until stable power is restored.
Additional Resources
Organizations such as the National Weather Service and Oklahoma Emergency Management can provide additional information, alerts and resources.
Ready.gov
National Weather Service, Norman, OK
Air Force Civil Engineer Center – Be Ready disaster planning page
Oklahoma Emergency Management
Editor’s Note: This article is updated from a previous version to include additional topics