Storm Shelter Applications Rise in Moore After March Tornado

Applications to build storm shelters have spiked a month after a tornado touched down in Moore, Oklahoma.

Moore spokeswoman Deidre Ebrey says officials there have noticed an increase in the number of people applying for storm shelters since the March 25 tornado.

The Oklahoma reports that in the past month city officials have received 3,031 permit applications for in-ground storm shelters and above-ground safe rooms. There are about 7,800 residential storm shelters in the city limits, meaning about 40 percent of homes in Moore have a storm shelter.

The tornado passed through Moore and south Oklahoma City on the evening of March 25, destroying an estimated 17 homes in Moore and causing major damage to 25 more homes there.

In Oklahoma City, the tornado caused major damage to two businesses.