FORT BENNING, Ga., (April 13, 2016) -- Tornado season is March 1 through Aug. 31 and the Installation Emergency Management Office wants to ensure the Fort Benning population is notified and prepared for all dangerous weather events.
REHEARSE
As a certified Storm Ready Military Community, Fort Benning conducts a test of its "Giant Voice" outdoor mass warning notification system at noon each Saturday to help residents prepare for tornado season. This test coincides with Muscogee County's test sirens. The test provides a perfect opportunity for residents to practice their emergency action plan by rehearsing severe weather drills with their Family.
"During potential severe weather, the installation operations center is manned by weather watch officers who have direct communication with the National Weather Service located in Peachtree City," said Terry Wydra, Installation Emergency manager. "The sirens will sound during a tornado 'warning,' which means there has been a tornado spotted by an eyewitness or reported by the National Weather Service. This is different from a 'watch,' which indicates conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorm producing tornados."
Residents should take the warnings very seriously and take shelter immediately if they hear the sirens, Wydra continued. At home the safest place to shelter is usually a center room or hallway without windows, away from open spaces because of flying debris. If you are in a vehicle, pull over as quickly and safely as possible and stay in your vehicle with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows and cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat or other object to provide protection. Do not park under bridge overpasses as this can create a "wind tunnel" where horizontal winds can actually increase. More tornado safety tips can be found at www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html
REGISTER TO RECEIVE EMERGENCY ALERTS
Fort Benning also uses the AtHoc Emergency Alerts as part of the Mass Warning and Notification System to notify installation units, organizations and civilians of severe weather. CAC holders can register on their work computers while non-CAC holders can visit https://warnings.army.mil/SelfService/2538145 to register their selected devices to receive the alerts.
PURCHASE A NOAA WEATHER RADIO
NOAA Weather Radio is a 24-hour source for weather warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information. NOAA radios, along with the Giant Voice towers and the Emergency Alerts/Warnings notification system make up Fort Benning's Mass Warning Notification System.
"We encourage the Fort Benning population to have a NOAA Weather Radio for their homes as an additional safety measure to receive severe weather alerts and information," Wydra said.
Fort Benning Emergency Management specialists along with WTVM meteorologists will be at the Fort Benning Main Exchange hosting a NOAA Weather Radio promotion from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 27 in front of the exchange entrance.
There, they will program weather radios, Radios, batteries and emergency preparedness items will be available for purchase from the exchange at the front entrance.
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