By Erica Thomas, managing editor
TRUSSVILLE — For many years, residents of Trussville have had the option to take shelter at Magnolia Elementary, Paine Elementary, Cahaba Elementary and Hewitt-Trussville Middle School, during tornado warnings. The shelters have always opened when Trussville was in the tornado warning polygon. However, the school system has recently received input from the Jefferson County EMA and others and has revised severe weather plans to make it safer for those seeking shelter.
TCS will now open shelters to the public ahead of tornado warnings. The shelters will only be open to the public when school is not in session.
“The plan is evolving,” said Jason Gaston, with TCS. “What we are hoping and instructing the schools to do, is to open when we’re under a watch.”
Gaston said since a tornado watch can be issued hours before the threat has arrived in an area, school administrators will closely monitor severe weather systems and will open shelters in a timely fashion in order to allow people to get to the shelter safely.
“We’re using Tuscaloosa County and western Jefferson County as a point of contact,” Gaston said. “If there are severe storms in those areas, storm shelter plans will be activated.”
The school system will be gathering information from the National Weather Service, local meteorologists and the Jefferson County EMA. Gaston said the school system is also using all of these resources to make decisions about school closings and possible early dismissals or delayed starts.
“We are trying to be responsive to those trying to seek community shelter,” he added.
Any time the shelters are open, alerts will be sent out through the school system’s website. A red message will appear on the homepage with important information. District and school-level social media pages will also be updated.
There is a severe weather threat for Wednesday, March 17, 2021. The school system is already in talks about how to prepare for possible storms. You can check the TCS website for shelter information by clicking here.
Everyone in central Alabama should ensure they have multiple ways to receive weather warnings and alerts. You can sign up for Jefferson County EMA’s Everbridge Alerts by clicking here. Also, be sure to have a plan that includes where to go when your area is in the warning polygon. It is recommended to find a place indoors, on the lowest floor and away from windows, preferably in the center of the structure, if you are unable to make it to a storm shelter. Be sure to have a helmet, shoes or boots and a whistle. The whistle will help alert first responders if you become trapped in debris.