FEMA Shelter

Dear Dallas County Community,
It is that time of year again when the weather becomes unpredictable and oftentimes severe. As we approach storm season, I wanted to reach out and review our FEMA shelter guidelines and procedures. If at any time you have questions, please contact the High School office at 417-345-2223.
Thank you.
Dallas County R-1 Schools

Purpose
The Dallas County R-1 School District is happy to allow the community the ability to use the High School FEMA Shelter during significant weather events. Though this is a great resource for those living in and around the City of Buffalo, we encourage all residents to have a severe weather plan in place that adequately addresses the specific needs of your family. Thoughtful planning can help save lives in the event of an emergency.
Knowing and understanding the risks and/or benefits of traveling to a tornado safe room during an active weather event is something that must be evaluated by each family and community member. These storms can move extremely fast at times, and being out in these elements does pose significant risks. Questions specifically related to storm safety or community procedures should be directed to the Dallas County Emergency Management Office.

Location / Entrance
The FEMA Shelter is located on the High School campus at 500 W. Main Street in Buffalo. Community members should park in the north parking lot located on West Main Street or in the Dallas County Technical Center parking lot located directly behind the FEMA building on Spruce Street.
The only entrance that will be accessible during a weather event will be the entrance located between Buffalo High School and the DCTC buildings.

FEMA Guidelines
The FEMA building is a storm structure that can be utilized by our community in the event of a significant weather event. The shelter will be unlocked once a Thunderstorm Warning or Tornado Warning has been issued, or at the discretion of the Office of Emergency Management. 
No pets will be allowed in the FEMA structure, with the exception of certified service animals. Service animals should be housed in the hallway of the shelter in a pet carrier provided by the patron.
The FEMA building is equipped with a camera monitoring system that will be closely monitored during an active weather event.
Patrons should make it a priority to respect the FEMA building by keeping the shelter clean throughout the duration of the weather event.
Once an alert has ended, patrons should exit the shelter using the same door through which they entered.

Disclaimer
The shelter is programmed to automatically unlock once these alerts are issued. In the event of a technology or power failure, we have a FEMA supervisor who will respond to the building, and we will also request that the Police Department send an officer if available. Please note, if this happens, there will be a delay in the opening of the shelter. 
The Dallas County R-1 School District is not liable for FEMA or weather-related incidents.