Sixteen months after an EF-4 tornado roared across far western Kentucky, storm shelters across the region have opened more frequently than anticipated during severe weather events.
Racer Arena, also known as Cutchin Fieldhouse, is a place of safety to the residents of Calloway County. Murray State officials offered the arena as a storm shelter during the summer of 2022 and has been opened five times since then.
During the five times the shelter has opened, few people turned out, said Emergency Management Director Jeff Steen. However, during the April 5 severe weather threat, approximately 50 people sought shelter at Racer Arena.
Steen said he was “pleasantly surprised” when he noticed people seeking shelter with their children and grandchildren. He said the turnout was higher than previous openings of the shelter.
Steen said Calloway County residents were informed via WPSD Local 6 and the Murray Ledger & Times two days prior to the severe weather threat.
Steen said some people are aware of the storm shelter in place, but more should be aware. They reach out to the community by using Hyper-Reach and cell phone notifications. Residents can enroll by visiting http://hyper-reach.com/kycallowaysignup.html.
The National Weather Service notifies the shelter when it needs to be opened for severe weather. The Emergency Management team is notified by radio when the storm shelter is necessary to be opened.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) was on the scene to protect and serve the community during the April 5 storms. The CERT team is trained for 25 hours. Approximately 200 volunteers serve in the county.
Steen said a Facebook page regarding the storm shelter is in the works. It will give the community information regarding the structure of the building and what to expect when seeking shelter at Racer Arena.
No specific tornado shelters available in Fulton County. However, churches across the county open for inclement weather when deemed necessary.
The 270 Stories team contacted other emergency management officials across the region who did not respond in time to meet the deadline.
