Safe Rooms at Pawhuska Head Start

By A. M. Jefferson, ON Communications Department

Tuesday, June 23, Osage Nation Emergency Management (ONEM) and Atlas Safe Rooms installed two shelters at the Pawhuska Head Start. Atlas installs any size shelter for business or residential use and states that “tornadoes are most likely to occur during the afternoon hours while many people are still at work.” Therefore it was important for the Osage Nation to install a safe room at Head Start, and Osage Nation Congress agreed by allocating the necessary funds; each unit cost $12,000.

These safe rooms will provide most importantly safety to the children and staff. But they will also give peace of mind to the parents/guardians in knowing their child is safe.

Each unit:

• Is 8’ x 16’ in size; and
• Weighs 5,000 pounds.
• Has the capacity holds 64 people, so it will easily hold the students and staff.
• Is tested at EF-5 rates and meets FEMA standards.
• Has high and low air vents which are shielded from any flying debris.
• Has multiple emergency exits by removing panels from inside.

The units have a spring loaded vault-style handle for easy use as well as added security with “grade 1 high security keyed locks.”

Presently, the units are gun-metal gray in color but can be decorated to provide the children with a less intimidating structure. Staff says that when school resumes this fall, there will be drills on how the safe rooms will be used. Before, the only safe place in the building was the restrooms. Other Head Start locations have built-in safe rooms which occurred during those buildings’ main construction.

ONEM, Head Start and Atlas Safe Rooms look forward to hosting a ribbon cutting event to formally recognize this new feature in safety. To learn more about ONEM contact their office at 918-287-5225 or 918-287-9707 or visit the Nation’s website at www.osagenation-nsn.gov. To view photos of the project, visit the Osage Nation's Facebook page.