Col. Glen VanHerck |
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RESPONSE
Alexandra, this is an excellent question as I'm sure many of you have concerns about what steps to take in the event of a tornado, especially after the tragedy and devastation that occurred just north of us in Oklahoma last week.
Thankfully, Dyess has never been touched by a tornado, but there have been 64 tornadoes in Taylor County dating back to 1951, so the threat is potentially out there and being proactive in our readiness can be the difference between life and death.
The Dyess Emergency Management office performs multiple actions to ensure the safety of all personnel on base during severe weather. The EM office is responsible for maintaining a base plan that details actions for all units to take when a tornado watch or warning is issued. Furthermore, the EM office implements recurring training and drills to evaluate compliance with the base plan, including regular reviews of unit-specific plans and checklists.
We take the safety of our servicemembers and their families very seriously and ensuring the necessary precautions and procedures are in place, is one of my main priorities.
In regards to your first question, Dyess does not have any underground "community" shelters on base. However, the Dyess weather flight provides at least 30 minutes of warning, if possible, before a tornado impacts the base, which is why the base may have a tornado warning and the city of Abilene does not. The National Weather Service issues tornado warnings for Abilene and the rest of Taylor County based on the same criteria as the Dyess weather flight.
You are correct about gathering in an interior room should a tornado touch down near Dyess. Standard protocol in the event of a tornado is to avoid windows, stay on the first floor of your home or building and hide in some sort of interior room such as a closet or bathroom.
When a tornado warning is issued on base, the forecaster informs command post of where the tornado is or where it was indicated on radar, how fast it's moving and when it's expected to impact the base. Command post then sounds the warning sirens for three to five minutes. In addition to the warning sirens, utilization of the AtHoc system is a great way to receive immediate notifications via text message, email or by phone. If the active-duty member elects to put a phone number for a spouse into the system it will also notify them, but it is up to the active-duty member to do so.
In the event that you are outside and the tornado siren sounds, it is imperative that you seek shelter immediately whether that is the Base Exchange, commissary or any nearby building.
If you would like a copy of the 2013 Dyess AFB Shelter Guide for any further questions or concerns you may have Alexandra, please feel free to contact the emergency management flight at (325) 696-3365. Thank you for your submission to the Commander's Corner, I hope this has been informative and insightful.
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