With severe weather season upon us, it’s important for the community to understand how the storm shelters at Bald Knob Schools operate and what to expect during an emergency.
How Do the Storm Shelter Doors Unlock?
A common misconception is that a police officer or school staff member must manually unlock the shelter doors. However, this is not the case. The storm shelter doors automatically unlock when the tornado sirens are activated. This system is in place to ensure access during an active tornado warning without the need for manual intervention.
Recently, Officer Tacket checked the shelter doors outside of a warning to see if they could be unlocked if needed. At that time, no warning was active, and the sirens had not sounded, so the doors remained locked. Some community members expressed frustration on social media, believing he was responsible for unlocking the doors. However, it is not an officer’s duty to unlock the shelters—this process is automated.
During an actual warning, Officer Tacket was en route to check the shelter doors and ensure the system worked properly. His actions were part of his continued efforts to ensure public safety.
Storm Shelter Information for Bald Knob
• The storm shelter at Bald Knob Schools is NOT open to the general public during school hours (7 AM - 4 PM) unless an emergency situation causes the school to close early.
• Each school district has the authority to set its own pet policy for shelters. The priority is ensuring as many people as possible can seek safety.
• The following White County locations are NOT storm shelters:
• Unity Health (White County Hospital)
• White County Courthouse
Other School Storm Shelters in White County
If a storm threatens outside of school hours, these school shelters may be available:
• Ahlf Junior High School
• Bradford School
• Pangburn School
• White County Central School
• Bald Knob School
• Rose Bud School
• Riverview Kensett Elementary
• Riverview Junior High
• Riverview Judsonia Campus
• Beebe Early Childhood/K1 School Building
• Beebe Middle School in McRae
Stay Informed & Be Prepared
Understanding the shelter procedures ahead of time can prevent confusion and frustration during severe weather events. If you rely on a storm shelter, be sure to have a plan in place, know where to go, and remain weather-aware when storms are in the forecast.
Thank you to our officers and all first responders who work tirelessly to keep our community safe during severe weather.
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