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COMMUNITY
STORM SHELTER

The City has been receiving questions about storm shelters in light of spring severe weather forecast, and we want to provide information and updates on local storm shelter services.
 

First: Anytime there is severe weather in the forecast it's wise to have a plan to shelter in place. When the sirens blow, it's often too late to safely travel to a designated shelter.
 

At our March 11 City Council meeting, the city administrator shared with Council that shelter services have been operated for years by one staff member who resides in Towanda, who leaves the safety of her home to travel across town and open the shelter. This has been done in the past as a service to the community, but it also puts a staff member at risk and increases City liability if that person were injured or killed while responding.

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Additionally, consistency and communication are significant challenges during severe weather events. Some supercells are forecast days in advance, but other tornados spin up from overnight thunderstorms. Pop-up storms prompt both volunteers and shelter-seekers to drive through dangerous conditions and the active storm while the sirens are blowing, causing greater risk to life than sheltering in place.

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At this time, the City will NOT be opening a community storm shelter and is reviewing strategy and options for next steps. This may look like a collaborative community effort in which those wishing to use the shelter might also volunteer to staff it. Again, consistency is key.

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If you are interested in being part of a future solution, please use our website contact form to share this interest with the City.

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Shelter-in-Place Guidance: 

  • Go to the basement or lowest level in the structure

  • Shelter in a small, interior, windowless room in a sturdy building on the lowest level

  • Take your to-go bag and critical documents with you

  • Manufactured home residents should go to a saferoom or storm shelter (a shelter is available at Pine Ridge).

  • Consider coordinating with friends or neighbors for shelter planning.

  • Complete any travel before the storm arrives. Travel during the storm is unsafe.

  • For more guidance, visit: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_shelter-in-place_guidance-tornado.pdf

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