A very intelligent question has been posed about our public storm
shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic, “Should we have a sign-in list
for persons using the shelters so that in the event there is a confirmed
case later on in the county, we can make contact with those persons if
there was a person using it at the same time that was diagnosed later
on?”
I spoke with or Northwest Areas Coordinator for the Arkansas Division
of Emergency Management about the subject, and his answer was that it
would be a good idea. This would have to be voluntary (at the moment),
but since we are in the midst of the spring storm system, it is definitely a
serious concern.
So for now, each jurisdiction can decide how they best want to approach
that. I recommend a basic sign-in sheet similar to what we use for
attending classes or regular training meetings; name, physical address,
phone number(s), etc.
People typically come into shelters in a semi-panic stricken mode during
a tornado warning, so approaching them will need to be handled in
positive, understanding manner. We want citizens to come to the shelters
in the event of a tornado warning if they have no other sheltering option
or it is the closet shelter to them should they be out and a warning is
issued.