Vance Emergency Management gets Enid ready for disasters

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Bolinger
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  April was National Disaster Preparedness Month and Team Vance joined forces with Garfield County emergency managers, to support America's PrepareAthon! a campaign designed to educate communities and individuals across the country about what to do before disaster strikes.

The 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron Emergency Management Flight kicked off the campaign with the 4th Annual Weather and Disaster Preparedness Day at Oakwood Mall in Enid April 8.

"We attended it not only in support of the PreparAthon, but also because we support our community partners in the area," said Staff Sgt. Scott Hoover, the NCO in charge of the Emergency Management Flight. "The Preparedness Guides we handed out encompass all of Garfield County including Vance Air Force Base."

America's PreparAthon! is a grassroots campaign to increase community resilience and preparedness, said Hoover. The focus is getting the community ready to deal with any disaster that comes their way.

In Oklahoma, the primary focus is preparation for tornados; however with the recent uptick in earth quakes, the EM team also briefed Airmen about how to safely survive a quake.

"Planning is the most important part of being prepared," said Hoover, an eight-year Air Force veteran. "Make sure your and especially your families know what to do in the event of a disaster."

Often military members don't think about disasters after they leave the office, said Hoover. The exercise prep happens while they are at work, and the effects of an exercise are rarely experienced in base housing or off base. An Airman's family will likely not have a quick reaction checklist to follow in cases of emergency, so the EM team challenged Airmen to take Family Preparedness Guides home to their family members.

"If you have to call us the day of the disaster, you are already too late," said Hoover, about planning for an emergency.

The EM team surfaced at several events throughout the month to educate Airmen and their families, including the Enid Home Show, Spring Fling and the 71st Flying Training Wing commander's call.