Preparing Altus AFB members for emergencies

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Franklin R. Ramos
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  September is National Preparedness Month which encourages Americans to properly prepare for real world emergencies that can occur in their local communities, schools, businesses or homes.

"National Preparedness Month is an annual campaign that allows an opportunity to educate members of Altus Air Force Base on local hazards and practice actions that help minimize resulting vulnerabilities," said U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Marquis Henry, 97th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management Flight emergency management apprentice.

With Altus Air Force Base being located in southwest Oklahoma it is prone to various types of severe weather such as snow storms, tornados and high winds.

"If you don't have a plan you need to come up with one," said Henry. "People need to ensure they have a plan set in place for when an incident occurs, along with keeping a contact list and making sure it's up-to-date. You also want to have enough items for surviving in case of a loss of power for at least three days for each individual."

Emergencies kits should be stored in the safe area with items such as water, batteries, cell phones and chargers, canned food and important documents.

"If you have a question about what basic items your kit should contain you can give the emergency management office a call at 580-481-5388 or visit http://www.beready.af.mil/," said Henry.

Members of the base and local community are highly encouraged to have an emergency plan in place and contact numbers up-to-date so they are prepared for any incident.

"Emergencies can happen at any time so it's important to plan ahead for the unexpected because they do not discriminate," said U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Tyler Pennington, 97th CES Readiness and Emergency Management Flight emergency management journeyman. "This year's theme is 'Don't wait. Communicate.' We would like for everyone to update their emergency contacts, such as family, school and insurance contacts it's important."

The Readiness and Emergency Management Flight have a few events planned to help educate the base populace about making a plan to be ready in case of an emergency.

"Here at Altus we're setting up booths and we have an assembly scheduled for Sept. 23, at Rivers Elementary School," said Henry. "We also have two local radio stations broadcasting our message throughout the month about being prepared for emergencies."

There will be information booths at the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, Sept. 15 and 17, and at the Base Emergency Preparedness Orientation, Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. The Emergency Management Flight will also be conducting a scavenger hunt which participants will have until Sept. 28, to visit various emergency facilities on and off base.

"The scavenger hunt is just a way to familiarize everyone with local emergency agencies on and off base and whether or not they want to win a prize it would be beneficial just to know where these agencies are," said Pennington

For specific detail about the scavenger hunt call Pennington or U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Heather Robb, 97th CES Readiness and Emergency Management Flight emergency management apprentice at 580-481-5388.