Eldon R-1 School District to build storm shelter

In an effort to make students and the community safer, the Eldon R-1 School District will break ground on a storm shelter beginning at the end of May.

“We’ve been in the process for the last two or three years, writing the grant with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and we were notified last January that we received a $1 million grant to help provide a safe place for our kids,” said Eldon R-1 Schools Superintendent Matt Davis.

Davis said the plan was set in motion after seeing past devastation from tornadoes.

“With the tornadoes in Oklahoma just yesterday and then even from Joplin years ago, parents are concerned about student safety,” he said.

The “safe room” will be built between the two elementary schools in Eldon and will be able to hold 1,200 children. But the shelter will benefit more than just the students.

“During the school day it’s set up just to take care of our student population and our teachers, but after school hours, we’re working with our local emergency management agency to open it up to community members to provide a safe place for everyone in the community,” Davis said.

Davis said they have basements at the middle and high school to shelter those students.