FORT SILL, Okla. (Nov. 20, 2014) -- The Southwest Oklahoma winter storm season has arrived and will last five months with most of the storms occurring January through March.
Fort Sill and its seven surrounding counties average at least one winter storm which impacts the normal operations of the post each year. With the delayed opening here Nov. 17 and winter still a month away, the post has already reached the average.
The impact of storms vary from short-term partial installation closure to partial installation closure lasting two or more days.
The Fort Sill Garrison commander determines all delays, reduced operations, closures, and early release of non-essential workers.
MASS NOTIFICATION
When winter weather affects the post, Soldiers, DA civilians and contractors will be notified by the Fort Sill Mass Warning and Notification System known as AtHoc, said Ken Ray, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security's Operations Branch chief.
The computer-based AtHoc notifies all registered users about significant events on post, such as weather delays, through an email, text and telephone system. The message for delayed-reporting includes post workers' reporting times, and any gate closures.
Fort Sill personnel must be registered in AtHoc to receive notifications. To self register on one's work PC desktop, in the lower right-hand corner is an up arrow, click on that and then right click on the purple globe. Select 'Update My Info.' Here users can provide pertinent information including their county of residence, and post housing area. Under the 'Devices' tab, users can provide work, home, cell, pager and text message telephone numbers, and email addresses (work and personal).
Ray suggested putting in many contact means because if a user only provides their work email, unless they are logged on their PC, they will miss up the pop-up notification.
There is also an AtHoc notify app available for smart phones, he said.
"If you have the app on your phone you get the notification pretty much instantaneously," Ray said.
If at home and wondering about a possible post delay or closure, Ray suggests looking at the Fort Sill Intranet home page for any official notifications.
Weather announcements are also made on Lawton's KSWO-TV channel 7, and the dozen local radio stations. These media announcements are a secondary source of notification, he said.
HOSPITAL OPS
When Fort Sill implements winter weather operational changes, Reynolds Army Community Hospital follows accordingly to ensure patient safety.
Patients should follow the guidance on the Fort Sill website, Fires Center of Excellence Facebook page and RACH Facebook and check back for updates, said Cathy Rhodes, RACH Marketing and Education specialist. A RACH staff member will contact patients to reschedule any missed appointments.
The Urgent Care Clinic will be open for urgent problems only. RACH no longer has an emergency room, so patients requiring emergent care should go to a local civilian ER.
ROAD CONDITIONS
Road conditions are determined by the Directorate of Emergency Services personnel and are reported to the Fort Sill Emergency Operations Center. The EOC disseminates this information to personnel postwide.
GREEN indicates normal driving conditions exist on post. Roads are clear and dry.
AMBER. Cautionary driving conditions exist on post. Roads are very wet or have ice sticking to overpasses, bridges or intersections.
RED. Hazardous driving conditions exist on post. Ice or snow is sticking to most road surfaces. Heavy precipitation and/or high winds may limit visibility. Government vehicles should only be used for mission-critical operations. Installation delay entry/early release occurs.
BLACK. Extremely hazardous weather and driving conditions exist. All roads are covered with ice or deep unplowed snow. Only police, fire, medical and Directorate of Public Works equipment may be dispatched. TMP busses may be dispatched to pick up Soldiers in the field. All other government vehicles will be restricted from movement unless authorized by the garrison commander.
PLOWING
Main thoroughfares are given priorities for snow and ice removal. These roads include portions of Sheridan, Fort Sill Boulevard, Randolph and Mow-Way roads. Surrounding roads that access RACH, Youth Center, schools, McNair and Taylor halls are also given top priority. Roads on the East Cantonment accessing the 434th FA Brigade Headquarters and starships are also priority 1.
Snow clearance in parking areas is also prioritized. Top priority is given to RACH, Bldg. 4700 and Taylor, McNair and Snow halls. Secondary areas include the Main Exchange, commissary and CDCs. Corvias Military Living is responsible for snow and ice removal in its housing areas.
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