New storm shelter opens in time for severe weather season

With about 400 students and staff in Billings Schools and about 1,000 total in the Billings community, the school's just-completed storm shelter is designed to accommodate everyone within a half-mile radius who needs a safe space during tornado warnings.

The storm shelter doubles as a gym, featuring high-tech construction, and is built to withstand tornadoes. School superintendent Cynthia Brandt spent years working to get the safe space in place for her students.

"It started after the Joplin tornado, the thought that we needed a storm shelter, but we're a very small school, so we started we knew we wanted to apply for the grant, and we knew we needed a 25 percent match," Brandt said.

The SEMA grant the school applied for and received was $1.5 million with a community-match portion of $375,000 raised through a bond issue approved by voters.

The storm shelter was just completed and is now open for school use and community use in times of tornado warnings.

"I think it was a big relief, because now we know we're going to be safe in the building, and we don't have to worry about crouching down in the hallways anymore," said Hannah Verch, a Billings High School student.

"We now know we have our children and community in the safest possible place during a tornado warning. That is so comforting to everyone," Brandt said.

The local fire department is tasked with opening the shelter when there is a tornado warning for the area. There is a security system in place to further protect students.

The bond issue to make the shelter opening possible, along with the grant, was first approved back in 2015.