Tornado Shelters

It’s the time of year when we watch the skies for any signs of a tornado. When we hear the warning sirens, we know we need to find cover, but what if I don’t have a basement? Here are a few public spaces available in Scottsbluff and Gering:

Business/Facility	Address	Hours	Phone
	Scottsbluff
Baker & Assoc	120 E 16th St	8-5 M-F	632-3123
Bluffs Business Center	1517 Broadway	8-5 M-F
Brown’s Shoe Fit	1720 Broadway	9-5:30 M-Sa	632-6665
Connecting Point	1912 Broadway	8:30-5:30 M-F	632-5514
First United Methodist	2002 4th Ave	evenings
Hairbender	1513 Broadway	8-7 M-Th	632-6616
Independent Plumbing & Heating	1921 Broadway	8-5 M-F, 9-12 Sat	632-4185
Platte Valley Vac & Sew	1804 Broadway	9-5:30 M-F, 9:30-4 Sat	632-3734
Runza	1823 Broadway	10-9:30 Daily	632-6771
Sam & Louie’s	1522 Broadway	11-8:30 M-Th, 11-9 F, 10-5 Sat	633-2345
Twin Cities Dev	1620 Broadway	8-5 M-F	632-2833
Waterbed Showcase	16th & Broadway	9:30-5:30 M-F, 10-5 Sat	635-7740
Webber’s Furniture	27th & Broadway	9-5:30 M-Sa	632-2811
	Gering
Calvary Memorial Church	265 18th Street	evenings
Gering Public Library	1055 P St	9-7 M-F, 10-5 Sat	436-7433
Gering Public Schools Admin	1519 10th St	8-4:30 M-Th, 8-4 F	436-3125
JBC Inc	1502 10th St	8-5 M-F	635-0455
Northfield Church	2105 17th Street	evenings
Riverstone Bank	1540 10th St	8:30-4:30 M-Th, 8:30-4 F	436-5011
Scotts Bluff Co Admin	1825 10th St	7:30-4:30 M-F	632-7176
The Rugged Edge	1955 10th St	9-? M-Sat	436-4411
	Lyman
Lyman Fire Hall	313 Jeffers Ave		436-6666
	Minatare
Minatare High School	NE corner of Gym		783-1733

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This is not an exhaustive list, and we are working with community members to add more locations.

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Here are some definitions and guidelines to follow to help keep you and your family safe from the National Weather Service.

Tornado Watch – issued when conditions are favorable for tornado development. People located in and around the watch area should keep an eye to the sky and listen to their NOAA weather radio all hazards or tune to local broadcast media for further weather information. The watch is intended to give you time to prepare and time to review your safety rules.

Tornado Warning – issued when a developing tornado has been detected by National Weather Service doppler radar or a reliable report of a tornado has been reported. A tornado warning is usually issued for portions of one or two counties, for an hour or less. The storm could also produce large hail and destructive straight line winds. If the tornado warning includes your neighborhood or work place, you should seek safe shelter immediately.

In the event of a tornado, here are some tornado safety rules to keep you and your family safe: 

• In general, get as low as you can. A basement below ground level or the lowest floor of a building offers the greatest safety. Put as many walls between yourself and the outside as possible. Avoid windows at all cost!
• Tornadoes could be obscured by rainfall or come at nighttime. Do not wait until you see or hear the tornado, it may be too late.
• Do not waste time opening or closing windows and doors. It will not protect the structure. You will only waste time and put yourself and others in greater risk. Use those valuable seconds to find a place of safety.
• In homes or public buildings: go to the basement or a small interior room, such as a closet, bathroom or an interior hall on the lowest level. Close all doors to the hallway for greater protection. If possible, get under something sturdy like a heavy table. Protect yourself from flying debris with pillows, heavy coats, blankets or quilts. Use bicycle or motorcycle helmets to protect your head.
• In mobile homes: leave well in advance of the approaching severe weather and go to a strong building. If there is no shelter nearby, get into the nearest ditch, low spot or underground culvert. Lie flat, covering your head with your hands for protection.
• In vehicles or outdoors: when tornadoes are possible, limit your outdoor plans or finish them early. Stay close to a sturdy shelter. If caught outside, find shelter in a ditch or remain in your vehicle and cover your head for protection. Do not take shelter under a highway overpass, where wind speeds can increase due to a tunneling effect. It is best to not put yourself or others in a situation where no sturdy shelter is available.
• Remember, stay away from doors, windows, outside walls and protect your head!