THIS INFORMATION PROVIDED BY USD 504:

The community safe rooms at Neosho Heights, Oswego Junior-Senior High School and Service Valley are available to USD 504 students and members of the community during tornado warnings or severe weather events with wind speeds predicted to be in excess of 75 mph, and/or any time the tornado warning sirens have been activated.

The community safe rooms are constructed in strict compliance with FEMA standards for such tornado safe room facilities. These community safe rooms are designed to withstand wind speeds generated by an EF-5 tornado.

The community safe rooms are owned and provided by USD 504 first and foremost to protect district students and staff members during tornado warnings and high wind speed weather events. In the event of a storm warning during regular school operating hours, community members will have limited access to these facilities insofar as space permits.

COMMUNITY ACCESS DURING NON-SCHOOL HOURS
At times school is not in session, the safe rooms will be available to members of the public. In addition to the Oswego Police Department or Neosho Township Fire Department, appointed community members that reside in close proximity to the safe rooms will be issued keys to the facility. When possible, a trained school employee will be on the site during a weather warning to supervise the facility for the durationof the weather warning. When a school employee is not available, a community member will be designated to be in charge ahd have the authority to supervise the facility for the duration of the weather event. Care should be taken by all who use the facility to protect and secure school property, equipment and materials.

POLICIES
No pets will be permitted in any of the safe rooms. Certified service animals will be permitted; however, there will be no other exceptions to this rule.

PUBLIC ACCESS

  • Neosho Heights - Public access to this facility shall be through the double doors located in the walkway between the main school building and the storm shelter building. A sidewalk for this entrance extends from the curved driveway in front of the main building to the double doors in the walkway. The single door located on the west side of the shelter building is for emergency exit only.
  • Oswego Junior-Senior High School - This storm shelter is integrated into the main building. Community members will need to follow posted signage for direction to the safe area. Primary access to this facility will be through a single door located on
    the south side of thejunior high addition. There will be a sidewalk from the parking lot to this entry door.
  • Service Valley - Public access to this facility shall be through the double doors located on the east side of the shelter building. Community members will need to walk to the backside of the main building. The shelter building is directly behind the
    main building gymanasium. The single door located on the west side of the storm shelter is for emergency exit only.