Storm hazards points to personal ORM needs

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Rich Curry
  • 507th Air Refueling Wing
A severe thunderstorm roared through central Oklahoma County Thursday, July 16th. 

At 5:05 p.m. straight winds ranging up to approximately 74 mph and hail struck Tinker AFB. 

According to Lt. Col. Mike Cahill, 507th ARW Safety office, the high winds moved several of the wing's KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft parked on the ramp. Typically a parked, fueled KC-135 weighs between 175,00 to 180,000 pounds. "One aircraft was moved 6 feet while another slid 12 feet across the ramp. There were several aircraft that only moved a few inches but still need to be repositioned to help reduce torsion stress on the struts (where landing gear wheels are not aligned properly). We were fortunate that our aircraft were not damaged by the winds or hail," Lt. Col. Cahill said. 

After the storm passed, 507th maintenance crews repositioned the aircraft to their original parking locations and thoroughly inspected each jet. Oklahoma weather can become very severe, Lt. Col. Cahill warned. 

He pointed out that just like storms can affect wing aircraft, storms may also take their toll on reservist's homes and property. "Take a walk around your home and look at it from an Operational Risk Management perspective," he said. 

Cahill suggested members check to see if patio furnishings can be secured to minimize damage. "What about the trees on your property? Do you have dead limbs that should be removed before they are blown into your roof or limbs that are too close to power lines? By using ORM you can minimize or eliminate potential hazards. But remember, the proper time to use ORM is BEFORE hazards actually happens," he said.