Community storm shelters

The lifesaving impact

• Alabama Super Outbreak 2011 — mobile home residents without shelters most impacted.
• Joplin 2011 — shelter access varied dramatically.
• Moore 2013 — schools with shelters saved lives.
• Rolling Fork 2023 — limited community shelter access.
• Direct correlation: shelter access = survival.

Oklahoma SoonerSafe program

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

• Federal program after presidentially-declared disasters.
• Funds tornado safe rooms.
• Community-wide shelters.
• Cost-share up to 75%.
• Requires state and local match.
• Post-2011 outbreak: significant funding.
• Post-2013 Moore: continued.
• Application through state emergency management.

Mobile home park shelters

• Mobile home park residents at extreme tornado risk.
• Some parks provide community shelter.
• Underground concrete structures.
• Some retrofitted from other buildings.
• ICC 500 or FEMA P-361 certification required.
• Managers responsibility varies.
• Some states mandate.
• Insurance liability drives adoption.

Church basement shelter programs

School shelters

• Post-2013 Moore, Oklahoma requires wind safe rooms in new schools.
• FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funds installations.
• Community can shelter after hours.
• Some other states following.
• Insurance impact substantial.
• Democratic access to shelter.
• Model program.

Public shelter locations

Private business shelter opening

• Some retailers open doors during warnings.
• Home Depot has done this.
• Walmart has done this.
• Grocery stores sometimes.
• Legal liability varies.
• Community reputation drives.
• Announced via municipal alerts.

Rural gap

• Rural communities often lack shelters.
• Distance to nearest shelter can be miles.
• Farms and ranches often no shelter.
• Solutions:
• Bury culvert shelters at rural homes.
• Consider dedicated ranch shelters.
• Community mobile shelter programs.
• Register with 911 for special needs.

The specific state programs

Community organizing

1. Identify need in your community.
2. Contact county emergency management.
3. Attend city council meetings.
4. Propose funding source.
5. Identify potential shelter locations.
6. Confirm FEMA/state grant options.
7. Community fundraising.
8. Grant applications.
9. Public education campaign.
10. Regular drills once installed.

For advocates

• Rally after tornadoes to fund shelters.
• Testimony at state legislature.
• Media attention.
• Petition local officials.
• Partner with FEMA HMGP program.
• Educate community on shelter importance.
• Document deaths preventable by shelters.
• Persistent, long-term advocacy.

Getting your address on the map

1. Register your home shelter with county 911.
2. First responders prioritize registered shelters.
3. Include in family emergency plan.
4. Post shelter location visibly.
5. Communicate location to neighbors.
6. Test regularly.
7. Maintain shelter.
8. Include disability access.

The bigger picture

• Community shelters cost less than deaths.
• Insurance rate reductions.
• Property value increases.
• Public trust builds.
• Community resilience investment.
• Best done proactively, not reactively.
• The tornadoes coming will find your community.
• Prepare before they arrive.

Learn more

• Storm shelter buying guide
• Tornado safe room design
• Home hardening for tornadoes
• Community tornado shelters