FORT SILL, Okla. (May 2, 2013) -- Fort Sill's Emergency Management Office said the best course of action in severe weather is to seek shelter where you are.
"Once the sirens go off we do not want you on the road trying to get to a shelter. You may get caught in the storm, you may be injured from flying debris and you may interfere with emergency responders," said Steve Gluck, installation emergency manager.
Gluck said during the storms April 17, Fort Sill officials kept blowing the sirens because of the number of funnels and rotations, but also to get people off the roads where they were in danger. He said if a storm is close and weather officials believe it may be tornadic or severe, take shelter in your home first or move to your shelter location.
POST SHELTERS
There are two shelters on post. Reynolds Army Community Hospital, Bldg. 4301, is available 24-hours a day, but after hours visitors must use the main entrance and staff duty personnel will direct them to shelter. Snow Hall, Bldg. 730, is also available and that is coordinated by the staff duty personnel who work out of the Fort Sill Operations Center after duty hours. When there is a tornado warning, the staff duty personnel will open Snow Hall and guide people to the basement for shelter.
LAWTON
The Lawton area no longer provides shelters at schools and other buildings. Instead their emergency officials offer the same advice: stay where you are and seek shelter. In years past, different locations were designated as shelters, but due to Federal Americans with Disabilities Act laws, those shelters were insufficient and had to be discontinued.
COVER
If severe weather breaks out, Gluck said the last thing you should do is leave your home. Instead he suggests going to a basement, or FEMA shelter if it's available or go to the lowest level; center of the building; away from windows, and take cover as best you can. Use mattresses or blankets as a shield from debris.
"Additionally a thing that we as emergency management have been advocating is for younger children, and not a bad idea for adults either, is to have them wear a helmet when they take shelter," said Gluck. "This will help protect from flying debris or structural collapse."
He said parents should also write the name of the child on the helmet to help emergency responders with identification, if needed.
SIRENS
Fort Sill's Giant Voice will sound in severe weather, but emergency officials stress it is only for outside notification, they are not meant to be heard indoors. For internal notification listen to a NOAA radio, tune into KCCU at 89.3 FM or 102.7 FM, or watch KSWO, Channel 7. KSWO and Fort Sill will also post emergency updates to social media sites, such as Facebook.
"When the sirens sound it is really too late to try and move to a shelter. Take precautions early. Watch and monitor the storm in your area," said Gluck.
Lawton/Comanche Emergency Management will blow their sirens when winds are expected to be above 65 mph or they have a confirmed funnel or tornado headed toward Lawton. They will not automatically blow the sirens when a tornado warning is issued for the county. They monitor the storm and have the affected locales sound sirens as the storm dictates.
SIRENS ARE NEVER USED TO SIGNAL ALL-CLEAR.
You can also sign up for emergency and weather notifications via text messages through Nixel at www.comanchecounty.us.
POST HOUSING SAFEST AREAS
Academic Heights: basement.
Buffalo Soldier Acres: FEMA saferoom.
Corral Acres: basement.
Crescent Hill: basement.
Geronimo Acres:FEMA saferoom.
Medicine Bluff: storm bunker.
Old Post Quadrangle: basement.
Patriot Estates 5001-5050, 5055, 5093-5097, 5201-5233, 5301-5404, 5407-5419, 5450-5476: FEMA saferoom.
Patriot Estates 5060-5071, 5075-5083: basement.
Quanah Parker Square: basement.
White Wolf Manor: basement or FEMA saferoom if available, if not go to neighbor's basement or FEMA saferoom.
Quarters 348: basement.
If your housing wasn't listed seek shelter in a basement or shelter if it's available in your home. If not go to the lowest level; center of building; away from windows and take cover. For more information visit
Corvias Military Living at 5445 Greble Road. or call 580-581-2100.
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