Twister time: Are you ready? Published March 10, 2015 By Capt. Blake Hamilton 71st OSS Weather Flight VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- While we are still in the depths of winter and snow is still in the forecast, another weather phenomenon all too familiar to Oklahoma is on the horizon. I am talking about severe weather: damaging winds, large hail and destructive tornadoes. March 1 - 7 is severe-storm preparedness week in Oklahoma, and this gives an opportunity for individuals and families to formulate a plan for when disaster strikes. Most Airmen know what to do if a tornado strikes while they are at home: go below ground in a shelter or basement, go to a safe room, or if you don't have those, the most interior part of your house. But, what happens when you are not home? Have you thought about what you will do if you are shopping, getting groceries, or driving down the highway? What happens if your family is separated? Do you gather them before the storm or tell them to stay put? When the tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma, May 20, 2013, a lot of the city's infrastructure was wiped out. Power was lost, telephone lines were down, and cell phones stopped working. How are you going to communicate with those important to you if a storm wipes out the lines of communication? Will you have a rendezvous point? Take some time this week to sit down with your family and formulate a contingency plan. Once you make your plan, take the time to practice. There are numerous methods to receive severe weather information. This can be done via the television, radio, weather radio, internet or even your smart phone. If you do not have one, buy yourself an All Hazards National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio capable of Specific Area Message Encoding, and code it for the Enid area. The code is 040047. This way if there is a weather emergency the weather radio will alert you at all times of the day even in the middle of the night. Most smart phones have a similar capability to alert you if there is severe weather in your area. At Vance, the official weather information comes from the 71st Operations Support Squadron, Weather Flight, but out in town the information comes from the National Weather Service based in Norman, Oklahoma. While these two offices may not entirely agree with specific warnings, if you hear a siren it is best to take immediate action. A tornado warning means a tornado has been confirmed via Doppler radar or a trained spotter and is an immediate threat. A tornado watch means conditions are favorable for the development of tornadoes and to pay attention to weather sources. The average alert time for a tornado is about 10 to 15 minutes; enough time to implement a well thought out and practiced plan but not enough time to make a plan. You can use this time before the season to make a plan and prepare a disaster kit to have with you in the event of a weather emergency. According to Senior Airman Zachary Paskovitch at the 71st Logistics Readiness Squadron, Emergency Management shop, the basic materials for a disaster kit should include: water (one gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, medicine, a battery powered radio, flashlight with batteries, first aid kit, a whistle, dust mask, duct tape, plastic sheeting, moist towelettes, garbage bags, a wrench, can opener, maps, and a cell phone with charger. Families should tailor their disaster kit to meet their needs. Vance Air Force Base and the surrounding areas are about to enter the Tornado Season. As the Weather Flight commander, I know my Airmen will work diligently throughout the spring and summer to keep you informed about any severe weather that threatens Vance or Enid. And, I encourage everyone to be prepared.