Last week, Inside Fort Smith broke the news that electronic locks on area public storm shelters at Albert Pike and Bonneville elementary schools failed top open when sirens sounded Friday night in severe weather.
The storm shelter at Chaffin Junior High suffered the same malfunction, and an estimated 200-300 area esidents found themselves literally in the eye the storm. Press reports indicate that two shelters in Van Buren were not opened immediately due to issues with locks.
In Poteau, human error led to the shelter at Poteau Elementary remaining locked throughout the entire storm.
Poteau resident Callie Brown expressed dismay at the situation.
“My mom and I live on opposite ends of town, so our plan had always been if bad storms hit for her to just go to the elementary school just a few blocks from here house,” said Brown. “That’s what she did but when she got there no one ever showed up to unlock the doors. She and a bunch of other people were just left out in the middle of it all.”
“Somebody dropped the ball,” said Brown. “People-including a lot of women and babies-got out and went down there expecting to have a safe place from the storm. I guess they would have been better off to just stay at home.”
School officials in Poteau said they were aware of the problem and that “normal procedures” weren’t followed leading to the unfortunate situation. The school district is checking into the situation to try and rectify any future miscommunication.
“I’m not mad as much as I am disappointed,” said Brown. “I’m not pointing fingers and placing blame. It just doesn’t need to happen.”
“A lot of people could have been hurt,” said Brown. “That’s my main concern.”
There are a number of communities throughout the region that have public storm shelters, something to keep in mind as we move deeper into severe weather season.
In the four county area primarily served by Inside Fort Smith, those shelters are located in:
Sebastian County
• Fort Smith (Shelters won’t open until tornado sirens go off)
• Ben Geren Park
• Darby Junior High School
• Tilles Elementary School
• Howard Elementary School
• Trusty Elementary School
• Morrison Elementary School
• Spradling Elementary School
• Sutton Elementary School
• Kimmons Junior High School
• Sunnymeade Elementary School
• Pike Elementary School
• Ballman Elementary School
• Bonneville Elementary School
• Ramsey Junior High School
• Fairview Elementary
• Euper Lane Elementary School
• Carnell Elementary School
• Orr Elementary School
• Chaffin Junior High School
• Woods Elementary
• Cook Elemetary
Barling
• Barling Elementary School
Greenwood
• Greenwood High School
• Westwood Elementary School
• East Hills Middle School
Lavaca
• Lavaca Elementary School
Hackett
• Hackett Elementary School (North side of the school)
Crawford County
• Cedarville Elementary School
• Mulberry Senior Center
• Mulberry Primary School
Alma
• Alma Primary School
• Alma High School
• Alma Middle School
• Alma Intermediate School
Van Buren
• Van Buren High School
• Van Buren Senior Center at Knox and Lafayette
• Rena Elementary School
• King Elementary School
• Butterfield Middle School
• James R. Tate Elementary School
LeFlore County
Arkoma
• First Baptist Church
Heavener
• Saferoom between the High School and Elementary School
Howe
• New Highschool Gym
Panama
• Panama Middle School
Pocola
• Elementary School
Poteau
• High School
• Pansy Kidd Middle School
• Upper Elementary School
• Primary School
Spiro
High School Safe Room
Wister
Behind new High School Gym
Sequoyah County
Roland
• Roland Storm Shelter
• Roland High School
• Mineral Springs Church
Sallisaw
• Sequoyah County Jail
• Immanuel Baptist Church
• Central Public School
