ANDREWS AFB, Md. –
Tornado season is here and people must prepare for these storms. "Most people don't usually associate Maryland with tornadoes, but with only five years between us and the F5 storm that hit La Plata, Md., preparedness remains our top priority," said Senior Airman Jon Burnett, 316th Civil Engineer Squadron, Readiness and Emergency Management Flight.
Though simple, tornado preparedness is essential to survive and mitigate the effects of this severe weather.
To prepare for a tornado, the National Weather Service website encourages people to plan for their family while at home, work, school and outdoors. They should also drill frequently, maintain a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio and continue to monitor the radio and television for weather information, especially when planning for travel or outdoor activities.
When a tornado is spotted, the NWS also recommends moving to a basement if possible. If not, move to the lowest floor of the building as far from the exterior walls as you can, shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture and steer clear of windows.
If in a vehicle, get out and as far from the vehicle as possible. A mobile home is no better. Even if tied down, these homes offer little shelter from tornadoes and should be abandoned. In both situations, low-lying areas like ditches provide much better shelter from the storm.
According to NOAA, tornadoes can happen anytime of the day or year but are most likely to occur between May and July, from 3 to 9 p.m. That doesn't mean, though, that prediction is always possible. The NWS reminds its readers that "Occasionally, tornadoes develop so rapidly that advance warning is not possible. Remain alert for signs of an approaching tornado."
"Tornadoes are one of nature's most violent storms with wind speeds up to 250 mph," said Tech. Sgt. Katrina Blanchard, 316th Operations Support Squadron Weather Flight NCOIC. "Blowing debris is the most common hazard during a tornado but the unpredictability and little advance notice pose a significant hazard."
The 15th Operational Weather Squadron is responsible for issuing all weather warnings for Andrews AFB. The 15th OWS coordinates closely with the 316th OSS Weather Flight to insure that only the most accurate information is disseminated, she said.
"A tornado watch is issued when conditions are favorable for severe thunderstorms to produce tornados. A watch does not mean a tornado is occurring only that potential exists for development." the sergeant said. "A warning is issued when tornadic activity is imminent or occurring."
Forecasting the path of a tornado once it touches ground is nearly impossible as the nature of the phenomenon is its unpredictability, she added.
The weather flight passes tornado warning information to the 316th Wing Command Post for further dissemination. The base population is then informed via the public address system, followed by signal tones and messages as seen in the chart below.