AEDC earns StormReady status from National Weather Service

  • Published
  • By Patrick Ary
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. --  When a deadly tornado rolled through Franklin County Feb. 28, Arnold Engineering Development Center (AEDC) employees took shelter as the storm passed just south of the base. They were alerted through their computers and base communication system speakers in base facilities.

But employees who carry radios on base had the capability to monitor the hazardous weather thanks to a weather warning that was broadcast over those radios. It was a new system, and one that was the final hurdle for AEDC in gaining StormReady status from the National Weather Service.

"I think it was a great test run of the system with the tornado that hit the area just to the south," said Tom Johnstone, a warning coordination meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Nashville. "It was a real close call but everything was in place. Even though you dodged a bullet this time, you're that much more prepared next time."

In a matter of days, signs designating AEDC as a StormReady community will be ready to put up at base entrances. AEDC joins 50 Tennessee counties (including Coffee, Franklin and Moore counties), six cities and four universities in gaining the status.

"It just confirms that we're doing everything we can possibly do to make people safe," said Aerospace Testing Alliance (ATA) Emergency Management Lead Daryl Justice. "It shows we have a good shelter program, we're doing education and we offer training."

Even though dozens of communities across the state have the designation, StormReady status isn't given to just anyone, according to Johnstone. There are four main components that communities must have to earn the designation.

There's a preparedness component, which AEDC has with trained weather spotters who can spot hazardous weather conditions.

Repeated promotional campaigns are another component, which Justice says have been accomplished by educating employees with the base's Toolbox Topics on weather preparedness.

StormReady communities also have a working relationship with the NWS that helps establish a good communication flow and regular meetings between the NWS and community leaders.

The final component involves receiving warnings. StormReady communities have multiple ways to receive warnings, Johnstone said.

"If for some reason one method of getting a warning goes down, the redundancy built into the action plan for StormReady communities allows them to get the warning regardless," he said.

At AEDC, that includes siren systems, telephone trees and the new warning system that broadcasts the weather warnings on employees' radios.

The system that got its first real-world test at the end of February only cost about $400 and does more than pay for itself when it comes to the potential for saving lives.

"It expedites notification, especially if you work outside," said ATA Emergency Manager Brad Walker. "And in the case of the Ops Center, it's one less thing they have to do because everyone has a radio and it broadcasts across that."

In the next couple of weeks, the NWS plans to schedule a ceremony on base to present new StormReady signs and a plaque.

"It's very good work that has been done to keep everybody safe, and we want to recognize that," Johnstone said.

AEDC Fire Chief Daryle Lopes said he's also proud of the work the base's emergency management team has done to make sure everyone on base is as safe as possible when something bad happens.

"These guys won't say it because they're too humble, but they put a great deal of effort and hard work into it," Lopes said. "And as their boss, I'm proud of them."