Startling Truth About Oklahoma’s Public Storm Shelters – Or Lack Thereof

Storm season in Oklahoma during the spring months, especially May, has always been a dangerous time of year. Despite knowing the incoming weather each year, cities in Oklahoma go without any type of public storm shelters. Instead, this responsibility falls on individual families.

Kristy Yager, a spokesperson for Oklahoma City, stated that it is impractical to prepare a large enough shelter for Oklahoma City's population (around 700,000 people), that it has "too many problems that could happen," she said. "Financially it would just be too difficult to do." For a population that size, of course one shelter wouldn't be possible at all. But what about smaller towns?

Another issue with offering public shelters would inadverdently getting people in the worst place to be during a severe storm: your car. According to Mayor David Holt of Oklahoma City, the city receives warning of a tornado just 10 to 15 minutes ahead of time.

"So we can’t have tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of residents relocating on a few minutes notice to some sort of public shelter."

-Mayor David Holt, Oklahoma City 

Even in smaller populations like Elgin, Oklahoma, that's up to 3,724 people running for cover at the same time. The traffic on the roads could prevent everyone from getting where they need to be in time.

Yes, there are risks that come along with having public storm shelters, but it isn't impossible. In fact, just to our north, Kansas readily has a list of 35 public storm shelters for different areas with contact numbers in tow. And that's just one state; in tornado alley, "Arkansas, Missouri and Kansas, have more than 150 of the public shelters, and Texas has 49," according to BBC News. So, if they can do it, why can't we?

Although it would seem impractical to make one large building for an entire community, especially considering the type of building it would need to be to survive storms up to EF5 strength and 300+ mile an hour winds, there are options that don't seem completely unrealistic.

On a reddit thread asking why there aren't more, users have suggested things such as requiring a storm shelter for RV parks and Mobile Home Parks, doubling it as a utility room or housekeeping and therefore making it more useful when there aren't storms. Or if we can't afford to build shelters, why not start requiring basements in new homes being built?

One way the government has started to incentivize private home owners to install their own shelters is through a rebate program called SoonerSafe, which reimburses home owners up to $3,000 towards their shelter. The program draws for winners, at least twice a year, so there is no guarantee that you'll ever actually win. The program is limited on funds and on average, most Oklahomans actually spend up about $7,608 on a storm shelter. And this does not solve the problem that most Oklahomans face: where will they turn to when severe weather hits?

For now, the most that any Oklahoma family can do until they do install their own storm shelters is to remember the golden rule of severe weather, according to ready.gov:

• Stay away from windows, doors, and outside walls.
• Do not go under an overpass or bridge. You’re safer in a low, flat location.
• Watch out for flying debris that can cause injury or death.
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• Go to the lowest level of the building you're in