Stay ready for hurricane season

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class John Nieves Camacho
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Hurricane season begins June 1 for the Atlantic region and goes until Nov. 30. This time of year has a relatively high number of hurricanes due to warm and cold air clashing with heavy air pressure. Airmen at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base are encouraged to be prepared and ready throughout the season.

Prior to a hurricane's arrival, 4th Civil Engineer Squadron readiness and emergency management flight personnel ensure Team Seymour is prepared by distributing educational material, designing and participating in wing-wide natural disaster exercises, reviewing emergency management plans and coordinating with units about their specific responsibilities. Flight personnel also coordinate with Wayne County and North Carolina Emergency Management to ensure the base is following local emergency guidelines and sharing preparation efforts with our civilian counterparts.

"In the event of a hurricane, it is crucial to have supplies on hand that will get you and your family through the following days after the storm has passed," said Master Sgt. Michael English, 4th CES emergency management NCO in-charge. "High winds and heavy flooding associated with hurricanes generally disrupt utilities that will prevent you from cooking food, keeping food items cold, and will disrupt water flow to your home as well as shutdown local businesses. It is imperative to have those basic life necessities in place in the event that the inevitable happens."

Items to consider when building an emergency disaster kit are: water, non-perishable food items, flashlights with extra batteries, candles, first-aid items and medication, important documents in a waterproof container, cash, toys, games and general entertainment for family members.

"Preparation is key to survival, no matter what emergency presents itself," English added. "In case of a hurricane, having a well stocked emergency survival kit and home emergency response plan that is frequently exercised is critical."

When preparing for a hurricane, secure loose items around the yard that can become potential projectiles during high winds. Vehicles should have full tanks of gas before a storm hits. Families should have an evacuation plan in place and a secondary re-group location in the event of becoming separated.

During and after the storm, an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is stood up to facilitate response and recovery efforts. The EOC makes storm recovery efforts possible and ensures the mission is back on track as quickly and safely as it can be resumed by coordinating with off base emergency management agencies in the event the base suffers severe damage and requires support from the community.

The Air Force uses hurricane condition warnings, or HURCONs, to inform personnel of inbound hurricanes. The levels are:

HURCON IV - 50 knot or greater winds possible within 72 hours.

HURCON III - 50 knot or greater winds possible within 48 hours.

HURCON II - 50 knot or greater winds possible within 24 hours.

HURCON I - 50 knot or greater winds possible within 12 hours.

HURCON IE - 50 knot or greater winds are present. All outside activity prohibited.

HURCON IR - Storm has passed but hazards are present. Emergency Responders are released to move about.

In 2012, 19 hurricanes in total affected the Atlantic region. The storms caused more than 2 billion dollars in damage to the U.S. and 195 deaths.

The last hurricane to impact Seymour Johnson AFB was Hurricane Irene in August 2011. Irene caused mild damage, downed trees and blew up one transformer, but left behind no injuries to personnel assigned here.

"There will be damage after the storm comes, so we have to be very cautious and do things as safe as possible while cleaning up debris," said Staff Sgt. Pierre Convers, 4th Fighter Wing ground safety craftsman. "From broken glass to bent metal, we make sure to use good risk management processes when cleaning up."

For more information on hurricanes or disaster relief, visit the following websites:

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

http://www.redcross.org/

http://www.ready.gov/are-you-ready-guide