Through a partnership between Watonga Public Schools and the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office the community is a little safer.
According to a press release from Sheriff Travis Daugherty, the partnership helps ensure citizens have a secure storm shelter for tornado season.
Deputies will open the storm shelter at Watonga Elementary School. The storm shelter at the high school may also be utilized, if necessary, the release indicates.
To access the shelter at the elementary school, citizens should enter through the west side entrance of the elementary school and proceed to the safe room. Should the room become overcrowded, the overflow may be sheltered at the high school safe room.
Watonga Superintendent Kyle Hilterbran wrote, “Special thanks to Dr. McGee and Sheriff Daugherty for working with the school to make this happen for our awesome community.”
The shelters will be open during storm warnings outside the school day. Additionally, the First Baptist Church has a storm shelter.
Residents who have installed a shelter or safe room in their home are advised to alert Blaine County Emergency Management or the Watonga Fire Department/Emergency Management to its location so that they may be located once the storm has passed, especially if the door to the shelter is covered with debris or fallen limbs or trees.
Typically, tornado season in Oklahoma runs from March to May, with the highest activity in April and May. However, storms may occur at any time of year as illustrated last year when a small tornado touched down in town in November.