Make a plan, get a kit, and be prepared Published March 23, 2015 OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- As the sun finally thaws the frigid tundra of Nebraska and spring begins to inspire the 'Husker Nation' to once again venture outside for a fun-filled year of baseball, soccer and football, the Air Force would like to remind you to 'Be Ready.' According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Applied Climate Sciences department, Nebraska averages almost 50 tornadoes a year with a season that can begin as early as March and can last through October. The first thing you need to know in your preparation for the threat is the terms that will be used in news broadcasts and on the radio. For instance, a "Tornado Watch" is a warning issued when conditions are favorable for the formation of a tornado. A "Tornado Warning" is issued when a tornado has been sighted by weather radar. The danger of tornadoes in Nebraska made national headlines last year when two tornadoes touched down on June 16, 2014 and ripped through the town of Pilger, Nebraska, injuring more than 20 and killing two. Now that you know the danger and the terms used by media outlets for tornados, make a plan. "The best thing someone can do to ensure they are prepared for severe weather is to have a plan established in advance of the severe weather season, and practice the plan to ensure all family members are familiar with it," said Horace "Trip" Spiller, Offutt AFB installation emergency manager. The reason why this is such an important step is because you and your family members may not be together when an emergency happens. Making sure everyone knows what to do will increase everyone's chances of surviving until you can be reunited again. "At a minimum, plans should include a tornado protective area location, emergency contact information and knowing the location and operation of utility shut-offs for your home," Spiller said. "It is also good to have knowledge of basic safety and First-Aid skills." After you and your family have established a plan, get a kit. A basic emergency/disaster kit should include the following items to last at least 72 hours: - One gallon of water per person, per day - Three day supply of non-perishable food. Don't forget the can opener. - First Aid kit that is large enough to support the number of people in your family - Whistle to signal for help - Hand crank flashlight or battery powered flashlight with spare batteries. - Battery powered or hand crank AM/FM/NOAA weather radio. Some models will also charge cell phones using the hand crank and USB charging cord. - Dust masks - Tools to shut off utilities - Sturdy shoes - Toilet paper/moist towelettes, trash bags with ties for personal sanitation. - Since most tornadoes happen at night, a change of clothes should be included. Some special items to consider are: - 72 hours worth of medications - Spare glasses - Pet food - Infant Formula - Cash - Any other unique needs items you may require. State officials have established March 23 - 27 as Nebraska's Severe Weather Awareness Week. The week includes a tornado safety drill March 25 from 10 - 11 a.m. The tornado drill also serves as the required annual natural disaster response exercise for the base. If Offutt personnel are working on Offutt AFB and a tornado warning is called, each facility has a designated Tornado Protective Area. If you don't know where the work center Tornado Protective Area is located, your Unit Emergency Management Representative will be more than happy to help out. For service members and their families that do not feel safe in their home, the lower level of building 301D is the preferred facility to use as a Tornado Protective Area. The ground level entrances 2 and 3 on the east side of the facility are best for gaining access to the main corridors inside the facility. One thing to keep in mind is if members choose to utilize Building 301D as a tornado protective area, the decision to do so should be made early on and not once a tornado warning has been issued. Bathrooms are located in most of the stairwells throughout the facility. Members should also be aware that minimal services could be available and to bring an emergency kit with them. Leadership understands that pets can be as close as family, so when you seek shelter from the storm, your pets are also welcome. Pets, however, must be kept on a leash or in a kennel. Members should plan ahead and bring food and water for pets as they may be in the facility for a few hours. Also, please remember to clean up after your pets. If you live too far to reach the base, here are a few reminders of where to go: In a house with a basement: Avoid windows. Get in the basement and under some kind of sturdy protection (heavy table or work bench), or cover yourself with a mattress or sleeping bag. Know where very heavy objects rest on the floor above (pianos, refrigerators, waterbeds, etc.) and do not go under them. They may fall down through a weakened floor and crush you. Head protection, such as a helmet, is also recommended. In a house with no basement, a dorm, or an apartment: Avoid windows. Go to the lowest floor, small center room (like a bathroom or closet), under a stairwell, or in an interior hallway with no windows. Crouch as low as possible to the floor, facing down; and cover your head with your hands. A bath tub may offer a shell of partial protection. Even in an interior room, you should cover yourself with some sort of thick padding (mattress, blankets, etc.), to protect against falling debris in case the roof and ceiling fail. A helmet can also offer some protection against head injury. In an office building, hospital, nursing home or skyscraper: Go directly to an enclosed, windowless area in the center of the building, away from glass, and on the lowest floor possible. Then, crouch down and cover your head. Interior stairwells are usually good places to take shelter, and if not crowded, allow you to get to a lower level quickly. Stay out of the elevators; you could be trapped in them if the power is lost. In a mobile home: Get out! Even if your home is tied down, it is not as safe as an underground shelter or permanent, sturdy building. Go to one of those shelters, or to a nearby permanent structure, using your tornado evacuation plan. Most tornadoes can destroy even tied-down mobile homes; and it is best not to play the low odds that yours will make it. At school: Go to the interior hall or room in an orderly way as you are told. Crouch low, head down, and protect the back of your head with your arms. Stay away from windows and large open rooms like gyms and auditoriums. In a car or truck: Vehicles are extremely risky in a tornado. There is no safe option when caught in a car during a tornado, just slightly less-dangerous ones. If the tornado is still far enough away, and the traffic is light, you may be able to drive out of its path by moving at right angles to the tornado. Seek shelter in a sturdy building, or underground if possible. If you are caught by extreme winds or flying debris, park the car as quickly and safely as possible, out of traffic lanes. Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows. Cover your head with your hands and a blanket, coat, or other cushion if possible. If time permits, leave your car and lie in a ditch or recess, covering your head with your hands. Avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris. In the open outdoors: If possible, seek shelter in a sturdy building. If not, lie flat and face-down on low ground, protecting the back of your head with your arms. Get as far away from trees and cars as you can; they may be blown onto you in a tornado. In a shopping mall or large store: Do not panic. Watch for others. Move as quickly as possible to an interior bathroom, storage room or other small enclosed area, away from windows. In a church or theater: Do not panic. If possible, move quickly but orderly to an interior bathroom or hallway, away from windows. Crouch face-down and protect your head with your arms. If there is no time to do that, get under the seats or pews, protecting your head with your arms or hands. For information about local tornado shelters, click here. "The Air Force Be Ready website at www.beready.af.mil and smartphone app for Apple and Android devices are great resources," Spiller said. "As always, the Emergency Management Office stands ready to answer any questions Offutt personnel may have, you can e-mail us. More information can also be found at the following links: http://www.offutt.af.mil/weather.asp http://www.crh.noaa.gov/oax/ http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/gid/WCM/safety/terms.pdf