Storm Shelter Construction Begins on 1st of 20 Schools in City in Oklahoma

Construction is underway at the first of 20 Tulsa, Okla.-area schools that will receive new classroom or library additions to double as storm shelters.

The Tulsa World reported that a $415 million bond package that Tulsa voters approved of in 2015 includes $7.5 million to reinforce new building additions as storm shelters at 20 schools. Springdale Elementary is scheduled to be the first to have a completed addition around November.

Springdale’s new classroom addition includes six-inch-thick, concrete walls and a new roof. Bullet-proof glass on exterior windows and doors will also be added to the $4.5 million building project.

Schools that were selected for the additions had outgrown their permanent structures and resorted to trailers and other temporary buildings. As a result of the new shelters, 80 of Tulsa Public Schools’ 120 classroom trailers will be removed.