There are currently 20 tornado safe rooms in the Springfield Public School District – two of those were finished at the end of the recent school year. So, if you live near a Springfield school, you might be close to a storm shelter. The district was able to add six more shelters that double as gymnasiums at elementary sites over the last two years with money from a bond issue passed by voters in 2023. Expansion of the safe rooms to various sites began in earnest when a bond issue was approved by voters in 2019.
According to SPS, the primary function of the tornado safe rooms is to provide protection for students and staff during tornado warnings and high wind events.
"These new facilities make it much easier to take shelter in the event of severe weather," said Stephen Hall, spokesman for SPS, "and we saw that play out in April when we had significant weather move through, and the entire Greene County area was under a tornado warning in the middle of the school day."
But, outside of school hours, those safe rooms are open to the public. Hall suggests familiarizing yourself with what safe room is closest to you. And when a tornado warning is issued, if it’s outside of school hours, look for the blue light above the designated entrance door.
"We are able to remotely unlock the doors to these storm shelter gymnasiums from our emergency services dispatch center," he said. "And for 10 minutes after that warning is issued, those doors are accessible to the community if it's after school hours."
Because doors are locked 10 minutes after a tornado warning is issued, you need to immediately head to the shelter when you get the alert. Hall said the doors are closed so quickly "to ensure everyone's safety that's taking shelter within that facility."
Only service animals are allowed in the building, and their owners are responsible for them.
Those with special needs who plan to use a safe room should contact SPS to make a special needs request.
