COMMENTARY>>Changes made to base’s tornado warning policies

by Master Sgt. Katherine Grabham
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A new policy regarding Little Rock Air Force Base’s tornado warning procedures will change the way those who live and work on base will receive information related to tornadoes in the area.

Local policy requires a 30 minute desired lead time in advance of an imminent threat of tornadoes. When a tornado warning is issued, the 19th Airlift Wing’s command post is notified. Historically, the command post controllers would sound the siren continuously from the instant the tornado warning was issued.

Under the new policy, command post controllers will still disseminate tornado warnings 30 minutes out using the base’s Giant Voice and network alert systems; however, the three-to-five minute steady tone will not sound until five minutes before the valid time of the tornado warning.

An example of an initial verbal warning issued by the command post controllers is, “This is the command post with a tornado warning, valid from 1600 local to 1730 local.” This message will be repeated twice. Then, five minutes before the “valid” time, the command post begins sounding verbal warnings and activates the siren. The siren will sound steadily for three to five minutes, repeating every 10 minutes. Periodic voice announcements are broadcasted until the “All Clear” is given.

“We realized that when the command post sounded the siren continuously, as soon as the 30-minute heads up was issued, it led to complacency and a disconnect with the local communities who only sound their sirens when actual tornadoes are present in the local area,” said 2nd Lt. James Melton, 19th Operations Support Squadron weather flight.

Maj. Wesley Sweitzer, 19th Airlift Wing chief of the command post added, “We also found that it was draining the Giant Voice tower’s solar powered batteries when the sirens were run for extended periods at night.”

“A tornado watch and a tornado warning are not the same,” said Lieutenant Melton. “A tornado watch is issued when the potential for tornadoes exists; a tornado warning is issued when an imminent threat of a tornado exists and/or has been sighted or indicated by weather radar.” The siren is sounded only for tornado warnings.

There are specific precautions that base personnel and their families are expected to take when the sirens are sounded. First, people need to stay inside. Remaining outside when there is an imminent threat of tornadoes is dangerous and potentially life-threatening.

“Not too long ago, I had to stop an outdoor basketball game that was being played while the sirens sounded,” Col. Greg Otey, 19th Airlift Wing commander, told his senior staff. “Not everyone takes the warnings seriously and that can be costly ... or even deadly.”

Lieutenant Melton also suggests, “People should go to a safe place, preferably an interior room, remain alert and listen for additional information or the “All Clear” to be broadcast.”

The Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency recommends:

Anyone in a structure should go to a pre-designated safe room, basement, storm cellar or the lowest level of the building. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room with no windows, away from corners, doors and outside walls.

Anyone in a trailer, vehicle or mobile home should get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a nearby building or storm shelter.

Those outside, with no means of shelter, should lie flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands.

Don’t get under an overpass or bridge; people are safer in low, flat places. Also, be alert for flying debris as this causes most tornado-related fatalities or injuries.