Do you have a plan? Published Oct. 13, 2011 By 2nd Lt. Tori Lalich 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Severe weather here in the Ark-La-Tex ranges from dangerous thunderstorms with tornadoes, hail and lightning to freezing rain and ice storms, to the existing drought plaguing the region. Should the weather in the area turn dangerous, it is important to have a family readiness plan in order to stay safe and protect your loved ones. "A family readiness plan is essentially a 'plan of attack' every family should create and implement when or if a severe weather disaster strikes," said Capt. J. Alan Goddard, 2nd Operational Support Squadron weather flight commander. "Think of it much like planning for a fire in your home but on a much bigger scale. If a large severe weather disaster strikes the Shreveport-Bossier City area, what would your family do?" According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the first step to take is to gather family members make sure each person is well-informed on potential hazards and community plans. FEMA also suggests discussing what to do if other family members are not home when a warning is issued. A good family plan should address the following: - Escape routes - Evacuation plans - Family communications - Utility shut-off and safety - Insurance and vital records - Special needs - Care for pets - Care for livestock - Safety skills According to FEMA, in addition to having a plan, a family disaster kit could also prove helpful in the aftermath of a weather disaster. The agency lists several essential items disaster kits should contain: water, non-perishable food, first aid supplies, clothing, bedding and sanitation supplies, tools and other special items your family may require. "A typical scenario in this part of the country is a severe weather outbreak with a long-lived tornado," said Goddard. "Oklahoma City, Tuscaloosa, Little Rock, Joplin, Fort Worth and Bossier City have all experienced large tornadoes in the past 10 years that have moved through and destroyed heavily populated areas." A similar event today in the Shreveport-Bossier City area would shut down all major roadways leading to and from the major housing areas of base personnel, Goddard said. There would be little to no cell phone communication. Streets in affected areas would be impassable. Anyone with injuries would likely be sent to one of several local hospitals for treatment. Many basic services, such as electricity and water, would be limited to non-existent. "Families who prepare and have a plan ready to go will be able to regroup and find each other and be able to fend for themselves for roughly 72 hours," Goddard said. FEMA's website states that you never know how long it will take emergency crews to get to you. It could be hours, but it could be days, depending on the nature of the disaster. "At the moment, the biggest disaster threat to our area is the extreme drought," said Goddard. There were several wild land fires on Barksdale last month, and the risk to the base and local communities remains dangerous. "The elevated fire danger doesn't look to have any relief in sight," said Goddard. "La Nina, the infamous weather pattern caused by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, has begun to strengthen in the Pacific Ocean. This typically causes us to have drier and warmer than normal conditions." With little rain in the forecast, it is important to be aware of fire safety and how quickly a stray spark or lightning strike could ignite a fire and engulf a large area. "Pay attention to weather forecasts," said Goddard. "If a severe thunderstorm or tornado warning is issued for this area, stay inside and be prepared to seek appropriate shelter. It's important that we are always ready and most importantly, have a good plan. For more resources regarding family readiness plans, the American Red Cross, FEMA and the National Weather Service all maintain updated plans. Visit www.ready.gov for more information.