Tornado Safety at School
Tornado safety at school: sheltering procedures, drill best practices, safe rooms, gym vs hallway myths, and post-Moore 2013 policy changes for education.
Where to Shelter at School
Best: FEMA-Rated Safe Room
Purpose-built tornado shelter designed to withstand 250 mph winds. Increasingly common in Oklahoma and Kansas schools after 2013. Cost: $200-$500 per person to construct.
Second Best: Interior Hallway or Bathroom
Small interior spaces with multiple walls between students and the outside. First floor if possible. Away from all windows.
Third Best: Small Interior Rooms
Classrooms without windows on interior of the building. Better than gyms or auditoriums.
The Plaza Towers Tragedy
On May 20, 2013, the Moore, Oklahoma EF5 tornado destroyed Plaza Towers Elementary School. Seven children died in the collapse of a hallway. The event reshaped tornado safety policy:
- Oklahoma passed the "Sooner Safe" school shelter grant program
- Dozens of Oklahoma school districts installed safe rooms in the years after
- Multiple states passed legislation requiring shelter reviews for schools
- FEMA published updated school safety guidance (FEMA P-361)
Shelter Position for Students
The recommended sheltering position during a tornado warning:
- Kneel down, face toward wall
- Head down, tucked between knees
- Hands clasped behind neck to protect head and neck
- Away from windows - broken glass is a major injury source
- Wear a helmet if available - bicycle helmets are commonly kept in school shelter areas
School Drill Best Practices
Every school should:
- Conduct at least 2 tornado drills per school year
- Drill in different classes/schedules to build muscle memory
- Time the drill - target under 3 minutes to shelter
- Include realistic disruptions (loud thunder, simulated warnings)
- Debrief afterward with staff and students
- Communicate procedures to parents
Warning Systems in Schools
- NOAA weather radio in main office - required in tornado-prone states
- Emergency alert integration with local sirens and NWS
- Staff communication protocol - who monitors weather, who initiates shelter
- Parent notification system - SMS alerts about warnings and dismissals
Dismissal During Warnings
Many parents rush to schools during tornado warnings to pick up children. School staff should:
- Discourage pickups during active warnings
- Refuse to release students if unsafe
- Communicate proactively via texting systems
- Have designated waiting areas for parents during warnings
Younger Students and Special Needs
- Assign teachers to specific students during drills (buddy system)
- Have wheelchair-accessible shelter routes identified in advance
- Practice with students who have mobility, sensory, or cognitive disabilities
- Ensure medications, oxygen, and mobility devices reach shelter
Safety Advocacy for Parents
Parents should:
- Ask their school about its designated shelter location
- Ask how many drills are conducted per year
- Ask about weather monitoring procedures
- Advocate for FEMA-rated safe room construction if your school lacks one
- Support state and local storm shelter grant programs
Notable School Tornado Events
- Plaza Towers Elementary, Moore, OK 2013 - 7 children died
- Enterprise High School, AL 2007 - 8 students died
- Xenia High School, OH 1974 - school destroyed, no students killed (school year over)
- De Soto, IL 1925 - Tri-State tornado - 33 children died
- Belvidere High School, IL 1967 - 24 children died on school buses
Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →Try the interactive simulator
Place an EF0–EF5 tornado anywhere in the world and see modeled fatalities, structural damage, and economic loss based on real census data.
Launch simulator →