Tornado training becomes reality

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Tryon
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  May 18 was a great example of how training received turned into reality. Almost a week before there was a tornado warning issued in Cheyenne, Wyo., the Mighty Ninety practiced emergency procedures in similar situations during a base exercise on May 13.

"According to Air Force policy and wing guidance, personnel are directed to seek shelter-in-place during a tornado warning," said Tech Sgt. Clayton Schoepflin, 90th Missile Wing Plans and Programming NCO in-charge.

Shelter-in-place means personnel should go to a room or hallway which is below ground, such as a crawl space or basement, he said. For people who aren't in a building with a basement or crawl space should go to the center most room of their building and should stay away from glass and windows.

There is a difference between a tornado watch and a tornado warning, Sergeant Schoepflin explained. The difference is during a watch, there is a potential for a tornado to touch down. A warning means there has been a funnel cloud sighted in the area.
"It's discouraged for people to travel during a tornado watch," he said. "However, it's advised that if you are traveling, you should be making your way to a building with shelter-in-place capabilities.

"It's essential to remember that once a tornado warning has been issued, people are to immediately seek shelter-in-place and to stay there until the "all clear" has been issued from the command post," Sergeant Schoepflin added.

The 90th Operations Support Squadron's weather shop uses radar and other equipment to determine when the conditions are prevalent for a tornado, and then again, to help determine when it is all clear.

The May 13 exercise started with a notification from personnel in the weather shop to the command post personnel, alerting them there was a tornado watch or warning issued. From there, the command post notifies the base populous by playing a three to five minute steady tone over the giant voice system.

Once that [shelter-in-place] has been accomplished, the senior ranking individual needs to take accountability of all those in the building, to insure that everyone is safe.
Almost one week later, the people at Warren had the opportunity to utilize the training they received.

"The training I received during the [May 13] exercise really helped me feel confident," said Airman 1st Class Janaya Bryant, 90th Missile Wing command section. "It gave me the knowledge I needed to stay safe."

For more information about what to do in case of a natural disaster, read Air Force Instruction 10-2501 Emergency Management Plan, or contact the plans and programming office.