Tornado Information
In light of the recent weather patterns, it is imperative that you are familiar with the tornado notification system and know what actions to take when a tornado warning is issued.
A WARNING means that severe weather is occurring. If a warning is issued, you must take immediate action!
When Offutt is under a Tornado Warning, the tornado sirens will be sounded. The sirens will initially sound for 5 minutes followed by the following voice announcement on the Giant Voice: “This is the command post. A tornado warning has been issued until L. Take shelter now!” This message will be repeated twice. The sirens will sound on a five minutes on, ten minutes off cycle for the entire duration of the tornado warning.
When the tornado warning is cancelled, the following voice announcement will be made on the Giant Voice: “This is the command post; the tornado warning has been cancelled, all clear.” This message will be repeated twice. Wait until you hear the all clear announcement to leave your shelter location.
You may also hear sirens going off in your neighborhood. These are the standard warning signals that are used in both the military and civilian communities. If you live in base housing, you will hear the Sarpy County sirens in addition to the base sirens. The Sarpy County sirens sound whenever there is a threat at any location in the county, not just the immediate Bellevue area. The county’s area of responsibility extends several miles west of Bellevue, Therefore, if you hear the county sirens, it is critical that you tune into local weather/news for more information.
Have a plan to ensure you and your family take the proper action to stay safe. The plan should start with recognizing the sirens and knowing what they mean.
