Team Tyndall becomes a StormReady community

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Veronica McMahon
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Team Tyndall has partnered with the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency headquarters and the National Weather Service to develop an Air Force StormReady program.

Tyndall Air Force Base is one of two bases selected as a test base for the potential of creating an Air Force StormReady Program that is tied directly to the NWS StormReady Program.

After reviewing Tyndall's application, response plans and capabilities, members from the National Weather Service in Tallahassee recognized Tyndall AFB thru the efforts of the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron Readiness and Emergency Management flight, the 325th Operations Support Squadron Weather flight and the 325th Fighter Wing Command Post for their severe weather preparedness efforts Nov.13.

StormReady is a nationwide program that helps communities better protect their citizens during all types of severe weather from tornadoes to hurricanes. The program encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations. StormReady provides emergency managers with clear-cut guidelines on how to improve their hazardous weather operations.

"The National Weather Service has recognized numerous communities in the tri-state area," said Bob Goree, NWS Warning Coordination Meteorologist, "but this is the first Air Force base we have recognized."

"Tyndall has been working with the National Weather Service thru a request from Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency headquarters for about two months," said Master Sgt. Rob Genova, 325th CES Readiness and Emergency Management flight superintendent.

According to the initial proposal written by Col. Fred Johnson, Air Force Northern National Security Emergency Preparedness liaison officer, the StormReady program will tell the Air Force community that their emergency management staff takes weather seriously and integrate Air Force emergency management with local emergency management and the NWS communities.

"There will be an advantage for Tyndall to participate in this process and there will be a great benefit just in developing the relationship," said Colonel Johnson.

To become StormReady, Tyndall AFB established a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center, have more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts to alert the public and created a system that monitors weather conditions locally.

Tyndall AFB also promotes the importance of public readiness through community seminars and has developed a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes holding emergency exercises.

"It has been a pleasurable experience working with Bob Goree and Colonel Johnson on this process," said Sergeant Genova. "It is great to be recognized from peers that we have the right equipment and response procedures in place to protect Team Tyndall."

By officially being recognized by the NWS, Tyndall AFB is able to authorize the use of the StormReady logo, set up StormReady roadway signs and be listed on the National StormReady Website and on national and state maps showing official StormReady sites.

"We are so excited to work with such a capable staff in the Readiness and Emergency Management and Weather flights at Tyndall," said Mr. Goree. "It is all about safety of the people in the communities we serve"

For more information, visit www.stormready.noaa.gov/communities.htm.