Ashland’s storm shelter registry update

ASHLAND, Mo- The spring months are quickly approaching which means severe weather is sure to follow.

Last year Ashland created a registry that would allow members of the community to document the location of their storm shelter. Just in case an emergency were to happen, first responders would be able to quickly recover them.

Despite the fact that the service is completely free, only 13 people have filled out the registry.

Chief of Police, Lyn Woolford, says the information will be kept confidential, “It’s not an invasion of privacy. We don’t share the information with anybody. It’s kind of like a smart 911. The information is available should we need it, otherwise it’s kept safely secure.”

Ashland Alderman, George Elliott, says it will be a big help in times of crisis, “It’s something that doesn’t cost the city anything but provides an immense need if one ever arises.”

While Ashland has yet to be hit with a major destruction, they will be prepared to find their residents quickly if a tornado were to come, “With this registry we can download it and print out the information and be able to say, ‘And we also have to check here, we aren’t done with that until we check here.'”

Woolford says the registry is pretty simple, with one page of questions that is immediately sent to a secure database. The registry is located on the front page of the city’s website.

Elliott also encourages other citites and towns to implement a similar registry that could one day save a life.