Ozark Center Turnaround Ranch Tornado Shelters
By: Rae Patterson
Updated: March 21, 2013
JOPLIN, MO--- A $30,000 grant from Joplin Tornado First Response fund is allowing the ranch to install seven storm shelters. The first went in Wednesday. The program's director says it allows the staff and kids to feel more secure.
Director Rono Bowyer says, " Procedures for responding to tornadoes consisted of our kids and our staff going into hallways, interior hallways, and putting mattress's over themselves. This way our kids and our staff will be, able to be in the ground in a safe environment."
Family Focus Specialist Tabitha Hoggard says the kids are eager about the shelter, but for entertainment use. "When it first came up they thought it was really cool that they were getting the shelters, and they wanted to go just sit in them and see what they were like, so yeah they're pretty exicited about having shelters as well."
Each shelter can hold a total of 22 people. Turnaround Ranch provides behavioral health services to children between the ages of 10 and 18.
