safe rooms News

Safe Rooms Part of Washington Tornado Recovery

A year after a tornado devastated the central Illinois community of Washington, city officials say one in 20 home rebuilding projects include a reinforced safe room. Washington director of planning and developing Jon Oliphant tells the (Peoria) Journal Star that …

Storm Shelter Interest High in Oklahoma

Last year’s tornado season wasn’t the worst in Oklahoma history, either in the number of twisters or the number of lives taken. But the deadly barrage that killed more than 30 people scared Oklahomans in a way that previous storms …

Pet Lovers Turned Away From Oklahoma Tornado Shelters

Jerry Starr thought he was taking the safe approach when a twister was reported heading toward his suburban neighborhood outside Oklahoma City last May. He grabbed his teenage daughter Dyonna and his dog and drove to the local City Hall, …

Oklahoma City Schools Weighs Safe Rooms on All Campuses

Oklahoma’s largest public school district is considering a policy that would require the construction of safe rooms to protect children from violent weather. The Oklahoma City School Board on Monday rejected bids for a new gym at Nichols Hills Elementary …

Construction of Joplin High School ‘Feverish’

A new Joplin High School that will replace one destroyed by the May 2011 tornado is on track to be opened in time for the start of school next year, and two elementary schools and a middle school are scheduled …

Six Schools in Mississippi County Getting “Safe Rooms”

DeSoto County, Miss., school officials plan to build safe rooms at six schools that would serve as safe locations during a tornado. The Commercial Appeal reports school board members this week approved advertising for bids after being briefed on a …

Public Shelters vs. Rebates for Private Ones

Tennessee is building more community tornado shelters while other states are using federal funds to help homeowners build their own. WZTV-TV in Nashville reported the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency spent $46 million over the last 10 years to build public …

Residential And Public Safe Rooms More Common Now

It’s been more than 20 years since a massive tornado decimated about one-third of Andover, killing 13 people in the Golden Spur mobile home park. But folks in the Butler County town haven’t forgotten about the tornado – or the …