Adverse weather avenues

  • Published
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  As winter continues, this is a good time to review the options for receiving timely information on weather impact to the mission. 

The Minot AFB public affairs office offers four avenues through which to receive such updated information: the base information hotline (723-1190), the Commander's Access Channel, local television and radio outlets, and the marquee.

The information hotline, commonly known as "1190," relays a recorded message on road conditions and delays and can be accessed both on- and off-base. The message will be refreshed daily during the winter season and bi-weekly during all other seasons. Whenever the road condition changes, the message is updated. 

The CAC can be viewed in on-base housing on Channel 10. It features weather, road conditions, force protection conditions, scrolling information, on-base events/activities and a Pentagon Channel feed. The CAC is not available off base. 

MAFB Public Affairs will report information such as delayed reporting and base closure to our local media outlets including KMOT and KXMC TV stations, and Clear Channel and KHRT radio stations.

The marquee can be seen when exiting and entering the base and features FPCONs, road conditions and base events/activities. 

Each servicemember and civilian employee falls under a category (1-4), and it is their responsibility to know which one relates to them. Category One includes "Storm Essential" personnel; Category Two is that of "Mission Essential"; Category Three is "Core Support," followed by Category Four, "General Support." 

While not everyone is in the same category, all Airmen are instrumental to the fight. 

"The purpose of the different categories is to facilitate timely arrival of our personnel," said Maj. Andy McElvaine, 5th Bomb Wing director of staff. "Snow crews open up the base, mission essential personnel begin preparation of our operational tasks, then our core support and general support personnel are able to bring the base back to normal day-to-day operations." 

Information on the defining qualities of the four categories is included in Minot AFB AFI 36-101. If an Airman doesn't know what category he falls under, he should ask his supervisory. 

The next time bad weather strikes, check the base information hotline at 723-1190 and monitor the CAC for the latest information on road conditions and reporting instructions.