On a side note, frustrations mount as it was recently discovered that the two elementary schools leveled as a result of Monday’s tornado lacked designated safe rooms. Despite the common nature of lethal twisters in the Midwestern and Southern United States, state building codes do not require that schools provide safe rooms.
According to the FEMA 2011 disaster plan, required of each state to continue to be eligible for disaster assistance, “This presents a substantial life safety and injury risk to children as well as school staff and visitors.” The tornado that wreaked havoc on these schools Monday was to blame for their destruction, but chances are that several lives could have been spared if there had been a more easily accessible tornado shelter or safe room.
