McConnell prepares for tornado season

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Lockoski
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  The misfortunate aftermath of a tornado can leave an unforgettable mark in the path it destroys. Such a case was the Fujita-5 scale tornado that ripped through Greensburg, Kan. May 4, 2007, which destroyed 95 percent of the town and took 11 lives.

McConnell's tornado procedures are designed to help people recognize the proper warning signs in brief time so that they may find a safe haven. As a result, this may save lives and reduce grievance in the event of future natural disasters.

"One of the best ways to prepare for a tornado is to purchase a weather radio," said Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Pelletier, 22nd Operations Support Squadron, Chief of Weather Operations. "Weather radios are inexpensive and they provide people with an accurate notice in the event community sirens and tornado warnings can't be heard."

Because Wichita is situated in Tornado Alley, a high density tornado path, McConnell, much like the city, has several tornado sirens in place throughout the base and in military housing to alert people of a potential threat.

These sirens sounded March 11, during a base wide tornado exercise which was held in conjunction with a state wide exercise from the National Weather Service.

When a tornado alarm is sounded, Sergeant Pelletier says to seek cover immediately, don't linger outside to see where a tornado may be coming from.

"People should have a tornado safety plans in advanced," he said. "They should have a safe-room designated in their homes and call list available to notify emergency responders."

The base sirens are operated by the McConnell Weather Flight however; they are activated differently from the county's alarm system. This has caused some confusion for McConnell members and families in base housing in the past when deciding whether to take action or not.

"The sirens at McConnell are independent from the county and are only sounded if a tornado has been spotted visually or by radar, or when it is expect to occur with in five nautical miles of the base," said Sergeant Pelletier.

In the Sedgwick county limits, the Emergency Communications 911 Dispatch activates all county sirens whenever there is a threat to any portion of the county.

"This could mean that people on one side of the county could be - and often are - alarmed when they are really not in any danger, said Sergeant Pelletier.

Sergeant Pelletier recommends always erring on the side of caution, especially in instances like the scenario that played out March 11, but also requests that people don't call the weather shop seeking information. The Weather Flight has been overwhelmed in the past with phone calls from people seeking information or clarification when sirens are activated.

"It can be major problem as those on duty are trying to focus on assessing the situation and possible threat to the base," he said. "During severe weather situations, we bring in additional manning to help interrogate the threat, which we cannot afford to loose on the dozens of phone calls we get from curious callers. If our lines are tied up with those query calls, it limits our ability to get the word out to commanders and decision makers.

"The advice I would give to anyone who hears the Sedgwick county sirens but not McConnell's is to immediately monitor local television, radio, the Commander's Access Channel (cable channel seven on base only)," he said. "If in doubt, go ahead and seek shelter, but please do not call the base weather station as our resources need to be focused on trying to monitor the threat for the base."

People should expect to hear these warning sirens through the year.

Sirens will also be tested on base every Friday at noon through November when the weather is clear. What McConnell members may also hear are the county's sirens, which are scheduled to sound every Monday.