Altus AFB To Conduct Severe Weather Exercise

  • Published

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. - The 97th Air Mobility Wing will conduct a severe weather exercise on March 22 from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The city of Altus and base residents will hear a short test of the Installation Warning Notification System sirens at the start of the exercise. Residents on and near the Installation may also hear broadcasted severe weather alerts and alert radio messages. All training messages will begin and end with "exercise, exercise, exercise." In the event of inclement weather March 22, all standard emergency notification systems will be used except for weather sirens.

During the initial portion of the exercise, base staff will be directed into appropriate shelter areas until the “all clear” is given. Vehicle, contractor and pedestrian entrance gates will momentarily close for in-bound and out-bound traffic while alarms are sounding and during the shelter testing phase. All gates will close at 10:30 a.m. for approximately 20 minutes.

Exercises of this nature are critical for evaluating Altus Air Force Base’s response actions to severe weather. Base personnel have been and will continue to be intently focused on improving emergency response plans for the safety of everyone on the installation.

For more information or to cover the exercise, contact the 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Office at (580) 481-7700. All media attending the event must RSVP and should plan to meet a PA representative at the south gate at 9:00 a.m. day-of for base access.

2nd Lt. Casey Rodriguez is the point of contact for this event and can be reached at 580-481-7700.

-- 30 --