The 97th Air Mobility Wing and City of Altus Emergency Management are scheduled to conduct a joint-exercise, testing severe weather alert systems March 7. The City of Altus, Hedrick, and base residents may hear a short test of the warning sirens at the start of the exercise.

Residents on and near the base may also hear broadcasted severe weather alerts and alert radio messages. All training messages will begin and end with “exercise, exercise, exercise.” During the initial portion of the exercise, base staff will be directed into appropriate shelter areas until the all clear is given.

Vehicle and pedestrian entrance gates will close for in-bound and out-bound traffic while alarms are sounding and during the shelter testing phase, but are scheduled to resume normal operations following an “all clear” announcement. Individuals who hear warning sirens and are not connected with the exercise are encouraged to remain calm and review personal severe weather response plans.

Daily base services are expected to have minimal interruption during the beginning of the exercise and should resume normal operations following release from the Shelter-in-Place phase.

City of Altus residents can visit the city’s emergency management site at http://www.cityofaltus.org for updates about the latest severe weather actions and to receive guidance on how to prepare a survival kit. Base residents can contact their respective unit emergency management representative for more information. In the event of inclement weather March 7, all standard emergency notification systems will be used except for weather sirens.

For more information about the exercise contact the 97th Public Affairs Office at (580) 481-7700 or for information about the city’s emergency procedures, contact Lloyd Colston, City of Altus emergency management director at (580) 482-8333.