WPAFB uses multiple ways to alert about weather delays, closures

During this winter season, when the “weather outside is frightful” and “it doesn’t show signs of stopping,” Wright-Patterson Air Force Base focuses foremost on the safety of its personnel.

In the face of inclement weather, the 30,000 employees that comprise Team Wright-Patt simultaneously receive alerts on their personal phones or emails notifying them of gate or road closures, delayed reporting times or base closures.

Wright-Patterson uses the mass notification system, AtHoc, to disseminate emergency information, including weather-related alerts, to personnel. These notifications affect the jobs and safety of each employee.

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All military members (active and reserve) and some civilians (non-bargaining) are mandated to enter personal after-hours contact information into the AtHoc system. All base employees are strongly encouraged to provide their contact information.

Personnel can sign up for these notifications on a government computer by clicking the AtHoc client (white globe with a purple ring) in their systems tray (arrow on the bottom right side of the desktop toolbar). Clicking “Access Self-Service” will direct users to fill out the contact information form.

In addition to AtHoc, weather alerts are also conveyed online and through local news outlets.

If severe weather is forecasted for the upcoming workday, wing leadership discusses the best plan of action during a conference call that typically occurs at 4 a.m. before the day begins.

Immediately after these meetings, before 5 a.m., Wright-Patt sends out notifications on several channels of communication: the installation's website ( www.wpafb.af.mil ), the Wright-Patterson AFB Facebook and Twitter accounts, and local media.

On the website, the most recent weather alerts can be found on the top right side of the home page.

The following local news outlets will also provide information regarding base delays or closures:

Dayton:

Channel 7 WHIO-TV (CBS)

Channel 2 WDTN (NBC)

Channel 22 WKEF (ABC)

Cincinnati:

Channel 5 WLWT (NBC)

Channel 9 WCPO (ABC)

Channel 12 WKRC (CBS)

Columbus:

Channel 6 WSYX (ABC)